The breeze is cool again: Amuria farmers happy vegetation is returning with Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration

Greetings, listeners, and welcome to the program. My name is ____. Today we will be talking about farmer-managed natural regeneration. What is that, you ask?

It’s a low-cost, sustainable technique for restoring land that is used to combat poverty and hunger amongst small-scale farmers in countries like Uganda. This technique increases food and timber production while fighting climate change at the same time.

In practice, farmer-managed natural regeneration involves the systematic regrowth and management of trees and shrubs from felled tree stumps, sprouting root systems, or seeds. The regrown trees and shrubs—which are present in crop fields or grazing pastures—help restore soil structure and fertility, reduce erosion and the loss of soil moisture, rehabilitate springs and the water table, and increase biodiversity.

As well as returning degraded soils and grazing lands to productivity, farmer-managed natural regeneration has been used in Amuria to restore degraded forests, thereby reversing biodiversity loss and reducing vulnerability to climate change. The technique can also be crucial in sustaining not-yet-degraded landscapes in a productive state.

Farmer-managed natural regeneration was first developed in Niger, and is now being implemented in at least 24 countries.

The technique was introduced to the farmers of Amuria by organizations such as World Vision to help farmers reduce the effects of climate change, and to produce continuous tree growth for fuel, building materials, food and fodder without the need for frequent and costly replanting.

I visited a few farmers in Morungatuny sub county, Amuria district to learn about farmer-managed natural regeneration and how they have turned around their fortunes by letting trees grow where they had previously been cut. First, we will hear from Justine Edonu and his wife Ariokot Immaculate from Odamiai village in Morungatuny sub county, who was one of the first people in Amuria to practice farmer-managed natural regeneration some ten years ago. He is now a trainer of other farmers.

SIGNATURE TUNE UP AND OUT

MOTORCYCLE APPROACHES AND STOPS AWAY FROM MIC

(AWAY FROM MIC, PROJECTING VOICE) Hello, could Edonu Justine be home?

(CLOSE TO MIC) He stepped out, but he will join us soon. He has been expecting you.

(MOVING TOWARDS MIC) Wow! The trees make this place so beautiful.

Thank you. That’s what everyone says when they first come here.

Wow! Even in the garden. But don’t the trees hinder your crops from growing well?

Not at all. In many instances, crops grow better in the presence of trees. For instance, you see that millet crop?

It looks amazing, yeah.

I have found that my millet looks better these days than it looked before those trees were there.

Really? What could be the reason?

I guess it is because with the trees, the ground keeps moist and the dead leaves make the soil more fertile.

This is amazing.

There he is.

(MOVING TOWARDS MIC) I am sorry for delaying you. I had a short errand to run.

Like we talked on the phone, I am from (name of radio station). I am here to learn about Farmer-managed natural regeneration from you.

Great. I will tell you everything I know about it. Please take a seat.

Thank you so much. So I was telling your ARIOKOT IMMACULATE that these trees make your home look great.

(LAUGHS) These are the benefits of farmer-managed natural regeneration, my friend. It is hard to believe how this place has changed because of the trees.

How has it changed?

You feel this cool breeze, for example? It was not there ten years ago. This place used to be very hot before I started practicing farmer-managed natural regeneration.

So what is farmer-managed natural regeneration?

It is where farmers allow indigenous trees and shrubs to regrow on their lands to increase the moisture in the air and in the soils, to increase sources of firewood and building materials, and to increase food both for humans and domestic animals.

When did you first learn about this technique?

In 2013. I was trained by World Vision.

So you mean to tell me all these trees are ten years old?

It is a bit more complicated than that. These trees were here when I was a child. But they were always cleared until ten years ago when I learnt about farmer-managed natural regeneration and allowed them to start sprouting.

So what crops do you grow?

I grow cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, soya beans, sunflower, millet, sorghum—the type used in making beer—even bee hives.

The reason I ask is because I want to know whether you have seen a change in yields since you started letting trees grow in your garden.

I have seen a big difference. For instance, that millet crop you see there … people see it and wonder what I put in the soil because it looks better than other millet crops in this village. I tell them that I put nothing in the soil. The trick is the trees all over my garden. The trees help keep the soil moist and fertile and the millet crop yields better. At first, people didn’t believe me but slowly, more and more people are getting it and they are also letting trees regenerate in their lands.

So the trees have improved your soils?

Yes, absolutely. Even when the rain takes long to come, my crops don’t get killed by the sun or lack of moisture in the soil.

So in 2013, you learnt about letting trees grow, and you did so and your soils improved. What do people who see the results of farmer-managed natural regeneration say?

The first thing most people say is, “This place has changed. Why?” Then they start saying, “Ah, this one is a Village Health Teams, and others say, “He’s a trainer of trainers for farmer-managed natural regeneration.” They usually comment about the coolness of the air around my home. They keep saying that my home seems like a nice place to live because of the trees. Some of them are so obviously inspired that they start practicing the same.

Amazing.

Yeah. Many keep saying that my home reminds them of the good old days when this land was beautiful, when mornings were misty and the trees were full of birds. You see that tall grass over there?

Yeah.

That’s the grass we use for thatching our houses, but it has become extremely rare these days. You can travel for miles and fail to see it anywhere. So when they come here and see it, they can’t believe their eyes. But I let it regenerate and I look after it. Whenever I have any thatching needs, I use my own grass in my land.

So what are some of the challenges you have found with farmer-managed natural regeneration?

Many times when I go to church with my family, I come back and find that some trees have been stolen. They steal them to use as poles for building houses or hoe handles.

That’s terrible. (PAUSE) But I am sure you are an inspiration to other families.

I hope so. Because farmer-managed natural regeneration was the best decision I ever made.

Wow! Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Edonu.

No, thank you. A visitor is a blessing from God. Thank you.

I left Edonu’s home for Odamiai village not far away.

I met Ecadu William, a 51-year old man. He likes to call his farm King Kong Farm, which we later find out was his nickname when he served in Afghanistan with the Americans. He says he was nicknamed King Kong because he weighed 130 kilos of ripped muscles. Five years after his return, he’s a much smaller version of his former self, but one can still feel his military aura from how he dresses and carries himself.

SOUND OF MOTORBIKE, ENGINE STOPS OFF-MIC

(HAPPY, PROJECTING VOICE) Welcome to King Kong Farm. I have been expecting you, Mr. Journalist.

(APPROACHING MIC) Thank you, Mr. Ecadu. I am happy to be here.

The pleasure is mine.

So I am told that you are one of the farmers that has embraced farmer-managed natural regeneration. Can you teach me about it?

I would request that we talk while moving through my land. I have a lot to show you.

That’s alright. Please lead the way.

All these young trees you see here—I planted them after the farmer-managed natural regeneration training.

What about the older ones?

Those ones I planted about five years ago when I came back from Afghanistan.

You were in Afghanistan?

Yeah. I was fighting with the Americans.

Oh, it makes sense now why you are dressed like that, huh?

(LAUGHS) I have seen the world, my friend. When I came back with some money, I bought this land and planted all these trees as insurance for the future.

Why trees?

First of all, they don’t need much care, but they are a source of real income. Second, I visited someone and saw what he had done with his land and I was inspired. So I planted mine.

So why is it important for farmers to practice farmer-managed natural regeneration?

Trees provide oxygen; they beautify the environment. You live in a more liveable environment. Plus, trees are a great source of income. Personally, I planted fruit trees and timber trees. That is why you see a lot of pine trees, oranges, avocado, shea, and jackfruit trees. And this indigenous timber tree here. This one here is only five years old, but look at how huge it is.

But won’t the timber trees make it impossible for you to plant crops here in future?

We were trained that if you have enough land, you can have one side of the land dedicated to timber trees and another part to crops. So I still have plenty of land for crops, as you will see.

When I was researching farmer-managed natural regeneration before traveling here, I found out that when the vegetation cover returns, so does the ecosystem regenerate. Is this true in your experience?

Yes. For instance, the monkeys had disappeared, but they have returned in some parts.

So the farmers that are not part of the project—what do they say when they see all these trees?

Some say that I am a mad person, wasting my land. They think that trees spoil the soil and take up space that could be used to grow crops. But others say that I will be rich in the future; that I have a good pension. Those usually get inspired to do the same.

I can see that you have let indigenous trees regenerate in that part where you have planted cassava. Won’t the trees make your cassava yield poorly?

Not at all. The opposite is happening. Those trees keep the soil moist, and their dead leaves fertilize the soil. So there is no competition between the trees and the cassava.

What else did you learn from your training?

That I am supposed to teach other farmers about farmer-managed natural regeneration. The only barrier that is stopping many farmers from following suit and doing what we are doing is poverty. They cut their trees to burn charcoal to take their children to school.

Thank you so much. I had a great time at King Kong Farm.

LAUGH

MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOPS AWAY FROM MIC

I found Dina Eramu at home with her family in Ayola village, Morungatuny sub county. They were seated under one of the many trees in her compound.

My name is Tony, I called you earlier from the radio station. I am here to ask you about farmer-managed natural regeneration.

You are welcome to my home. What would you like to know?

I would like you to tell me your experience with farmer-managed natural regeneration so that our listeners, other farmers can learn from you. First, what is it?

It’s a technique that farmers use to improve their land by allowing indigenous species of trees to regenerate and grow side by side with crops. The trees then help keep the soil moist and fertilized.

How long have you been practicing farmer-managed natural regeneration and what benefits have you seen?

Most of the trees here had been cut for charcoal. But, after I got training and started practicing farmer-managed natural regeneration, you can see that trees are everywhere now. The soils are better because they are less prone to dry up. On top of that, now I have firewood on demand. And whenever I need to build, I cut my trees and use them.

What are some of the challenges you face?

People steal my trees in my absence because they don’t have their own. Others criticize me that I am wasting my land by filling it with trees.

Don’t the trees create a canopy that kills crops?

Not at all. If they start getting too thick, we prune them to allow light to pass through the leaves. If there are too many, we cut a few and use them for building or for firewood.

What do other people feel about your technique?

When I started leaving my trees to grow, people would come to cut them for different uses. Maybe they thought I had left them to grow by accident. But as the years went by, they realized that I was intentionally leaving trees to grow in my farm and those who were wise went and did the same.

What would happen if all the farmers started practicing farmer-managed natural regeneration?

If all the people of Ayola village did, the environment would go back to the way it was in the old times. The thickets which were here would return. The wetlands would regenerate. And maybe we would have more rainfall. And maybe our droughts would become shorter again.

Great. Thank you.

MOTORCYCLE SOUND FADES INTO A DISTANCE, THEN MOVES TOWARDS MIC AND STOPS ON MIC

(TO AUDIENCE) I am here to meet Etol Jethro Tull, trainer of trainers for World Vision’s FMNR project and chairman of Moru Olwa multipurpose farmers’ co-operative society.

(COMING ON MIC) You are welcome to my home, I have been expecting you.

Thank you, Jethro, for making time for me. I have been visiting a few farmers asking them about farmer-managed natural regeneration, and I would like to get your expert opinion about this matter.

What would you like to know?

What problems do the farmer-managed natural regeneration techniques solve?

Too many trees had been cut for charcoal burning and commercial firewood for many years in Morungatuny sub county. Because of this, the soils were poor, crop production was bad, and the dry seasons seemed to be getting longer. So World Vision, an organization that works closely with farmers, started an initiative to sensitize farmers about repairing their lands. They started teaching farmers about farmer-managed natural regeneration and the importance of letting indigenous trees flourish.

Why indigenous trees?

Because, compared to foreign trees, they have the biggest chance of withstanding the conditions. It is also cheap because there is no need to buy seedlings. The farmers were told to let the trees that sprouted grow. They were also urged to stop cutting trees.

And how did the farmers react?

Many fought against it. Charcoal and firewood were important sources of income. Telling them to stop cutting trees was akin to telling them to die of hunger. Many also thought that letting trees grow willy-nilly on their lands would reduce the space for crops. So they resisted the program.

So what changed? Because I have seen data that shows that 500 farmers are practicing farmer-managed natural regeneration in Morungatuny.

Not just 500. Those were just the ones that the organization was able to visit. There are much more than 500 farmers practicing farmer-managed natural regeneration. Probably over 10,000.

So again, what changed?

About three years ago, the local government crafted a policy against deforestation. You had to pay a fine of 100,000 Ugandan shillings or plant 100 seedlings if you were found burning charcoal. The policy was meant particularly to protect shea trees, tangerine, and mango trees.

So now that so many farmers have used these practices, what positive changes have you seen?

The most visible change is that our land looks good again. Vegetation cover has returned and the breeze is cool again. But even more importantly, farmers say that their soils are better now that they are letting trees grow.

What is your personal experience?

My crops are healthier because all these trees you see on my farm keep the soil moist and fertile. Farmer-managed natural regeneration works. That is why more and more farmers are practicing the technique even if they were never part of the project.

So they have seen the benefits with their eyes …

Absolutely.

One of the farmers told me that poorer farmers who don’t have enough land tend to shy away from farmer-managed natural regeneration. What would you tell them to change their mind?

Farmer-managed natural regeneration can be practiced on any piece of land, however small. Trees can coexist with crops.

Thank you.

No, thank you. Please don’t leave before having dinner with me.

There you have it. Farmers that have practiced farmer-managed natural regeneration are happy they did. They are glad that their soils are better and that the air is cooler. While some farmers welcomed farmer-managed natural regeneration, a change in policy in local government opened many people’s eyes to its importance. Now, after testing the benefits of the practices, it seems most farmers may never look back again. Thank you for listening, and good bye.