Through careful research, the counsel of our partners and advisors, and a deep understanding of the areas where we work, KOMAZA has developed a thorough set of best-practices for our families' tree farms. By choosing crops ideally suited to our families' environment, using a comprehensive set of planting inputs and implementing well-managed continuous care, we ensure that these farms will thrive.
Well-Suited Trees
Some KOMAZA seedlings ready for planting
KOMAZA has chosen to plant a special variety of Eucalyptus trees, named Eucalyptus GC since they are a hybrid of the grandis and camaldulensis varieties of the plant. These trees are bred by our partner organization, the Tree Biotechnology Project, and have been proven to grow reliably and quickly in semi-arid parts of Kilifi district and across Kenya. Unlike standard tree farming species that take 10-20 years to mature, these eucalyptus species have been bred to mature in 3-6 years. Our trees also repeatedly re-grow from the same roots after being cut down. Each planting will yield several tree harvests, meaning that the initial investment in each tree farm will create repeated harvests over 20 years or more.
We have selected Eucalyptus GC because it is resilient enough to survive with very little annual rainfall and so fast growing that it matures to a height of over 20 meters in only 5 years. These trees yield high-quality logs for production into high-grade lumber and other quality wood products. After planting, Eucalyptus GC seedlings quickly grow into straight, uniform trees. Their branches grow no thicker than about one inch and, while competing for sunlight with neighboring trees, dry up and fall off as the tree grows, making them virtually self-pruning. Our breed of fast-growing, drought-resistant eucalyptus has already proven itself as a high-value crop in South Africa.
Planting Inputs
In order to ensure the success of our trees, maximize the value they create for our farmers and protect the land where we plant, KOMAZA has carefully selected several farm inputs which are used in all of our plantings. All of these inputs are provided on credit to each farm family, to be repaid from tree farm revenue.
A KOMAZA farmer prepares her Aqua-Soil
Aqua-Soil - A non-toxic, biodegradable super-absorbent polymer (mixed with fertilizer) that absorbs 300 times its mass of water to serve as a reservoir for the plant during the dry seasons. The addition of 2.5 grams of Aqua-Soil, added to the planting hole as a gel in half a liter of water, greatly increases a tree's access to nutrients and water. Aqua-soil decreases susceptibility to drought and reduces transplant shock by enhancing root formation of a newly-planted seedling. It reduces transplant mortality by more than 80%. Aqua-soil more than doubles the wilting point of plants, dramatically increasing the amount of time between when a plant was last watered and when it begins wilting. Aqua-Soil is also non-toxic and environmentally safe; after 5 years it biodegrades into its constituent parts of CO2, water, potassium and nitrogen, with no residual toxicity.
Regent 3G - A non-toxic pesticide based on Fipronil, a chemical that targets insects but which is harmless to animals and humans. The greatest demand for Regent 3G comes from growing rice, and it has been put to use on a wide variety of agricultural products to deter many types of insects. The effectiveness of Regent 3G has been proven by KEFRI, the Kenyan Forestry Research Institute. A main interest of KOMAZA in using this compound is its effectiveness in preventing termite damage. A termite that has come into contact with the pesticide lives for 24 hours, during which time it can transmit the pesticide throughout much of its colony. Importantly, Regent 3G is insoluble in water and therefore will not leach into the surrounding surface or ground water.
DAP Fertilizer - DAP is a fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This type of fertilizer is especially suited to tree farming as nitrogen promotes green-matter growth and the phosphate promotes root development. This fertilizer is combined with compost and manure, further enriching the planting area. By properly fertilizing the soil where our trees are planted, KOMAZA ensures that it maintains a proper balance of nutrients and can continue to sustainably support plant growth.
Cowpeas - Cowpeas are a variety of legume that thrive in the semi-arid environments where KOMAZA works. Intercropping cowpeas maintains and improves soil quality while nourishing the tree crop. They successfully grow in dry weather and low-quality soil, and they also tolerate shade well.
Continued Care
KOMAZA works with our families to properly care for their tree farms long beyond the initial planting. We have identified and developed a series of tree farming best-practices to ensure that each tree crop develops as successfully as possible. Each of our partner farm families receives training on how to properly care for their trees, and KOMAZA staff may periodically conduct quality checks to better provide advice.
In the several months after trees are planted, farmers remove all weeds that could threaten the seedlings and may also need to water the plants in the event of low early rainfall. Farmers are also responsible for cowpea intercropping along with the initial planting and at the start of the following year. Throughout the trees' lifetimes, KOMAZA's farmers carefully prune the branches. Since knot-free wood commands a higher price than knotted timber, pruning adds substantial value to trees intended for sawn lumber. Finally, families participate in periodic thinning of the trees. Tree farms are thinned after two and five years of growth, before their final harvest at eight years.
Finally, KOMAZA continually monitors weather conditions and potential pest problems. If necessary, we can work with our farmers to water trees in the event of extreme drought or help them recover from water logging in the case of very high rainfall. Continued pesticide applications and monitoring for pest or disease outbreaks will ensure that any minor issues are properly contained and managed.
