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7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
1/23
Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities
Kenya
MULIRU FARMERSCONSERVATION GROUP
Empowered live
Resilient nations
Empowered live
Resilient nations
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
2/23
UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES
Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo
or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth
their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practitione
themselves guiding the narrative.
To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing seri
that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmentconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succe
to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models
replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power o Local Action: Lessons rom 10 Years
the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.
Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.
EditorsEditor-in-Chie: Joseph CorcoranManaging Editor: Oliver Hughes
Contributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding
Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe
Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,
Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu
DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Par
Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.
AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, and in particular the guidance and inpu
o James Ligare. All photo credits courtesy o Muliru Farmers Conservation Group. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbook and Wikipedi
Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, Kenya. Equator Initiative Case Study Series. New Yo
NY.
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdf7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
3/23
PROJECT SUMMARYMuliru Farmers Conservation Group is a community-
based organization located near Kakamega Forest in
western Kenya. The group generates income through the
commercial cultivation and secondary processing o an
indigenous medicinal plant, to produce the Naturub brand
o medicinal products.
The enterprise reduces pressure on the biodiverse Kakamega
Forest by oering an alternative to the exploitation o orest
resources, while the commercialization o the medicinal
plant has heightened local appreciation o the value o theorests biodiversity. Over hal o the project participants
are women and 40 per cent o participants rely entirely
this initiative or their income. A portion o the enterprises
revenues are invested in orest conservation and biodiversity
research.
KEY FACTS
EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2010
FOUNDED: 1997
LOCATION: Western Province, Kenya
BENEFICIARIES: 360 households
BIODIVERSITY: Kakamega Forest
3
MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATIONGROUPKenya
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background and Context 4
Key Activities and Innovations 5
Biodiversity Impacts 7
Socioeconomic Impacts 7
Sustainability 9
Replication 9
Partners 10
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
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4
Kakamega Forest is the last surviving rainorest in Kenya. Locatedn the countrys Western Province, it is home to a unique variety o
cosystems and diversity o ora and auna. The orest is a cornerstone
local livelihoods, income and wellbeing. The orest provides
mber, uel wood, odder, building materials, and medicinal plants.
t contains watersheds that provide surrounding communities with
resh water, and sustains what is in essence a natural resource-based
ocal economy. Like many orest ecosystems, however, Kakamega is
nder threat rom population growth, local economic pressure, and
xtractive industries. The orest is being pushed beyond its natural
mits and is steadily being degraded. Human population density
round the orest is as high as 1,200 people per square kilometer.
High levels o poverty have led the 35,000 households in adjacent
ommunities to overexploit the orest resources, with timber and
on-timber orest products being harvested in an unsustainable
manner.
Ocimum kilimandscharicum - a potent remedy
One species endemic to Kakamega Forest is Ocimum
ilimandscharicum. This indigenous medicinal plant has been used
y the local population or generations, notably or the treatment
cold, us and coughs. Ocimum kilimandscharicum leaves contain
ssential aromatic oils. The leaves were traditionally added to boiling
water to release an aroma which was useul in the treatment o
espiratory problems and ailments when inhaled by the patient.he local population also used the plant as a mosquito repellant, a
ource o nectar or bees in apiculture, as a avoring agent, and to
rotect stored grains rom pests and insect inestation.
he Muliru Farmers Conservation Group ormed in 1997 with a vision
sustainably cultivating Ocimum kilimandscharicum as a means
conserving the Kakamega Forest and oering orest-adjacent
ommunities an alternative income source. The initiative combines
raditional knowledge with modern science and technology, and
rings together a diverse partnership rural armers, research
institutes and the private sector to harness the commercial vao this medicinal plant. The organization works with local arme
develop puried extracts o Ocimum kilimandscharicum which
developed into products under the brand Naturub. The brand
been ormally registered as a medicine in Kenya and is marketed
treatment or u, cold, chest congestion, aches and pain, insect b
and muscular pain.
The organization has our primary objectives:
i. Promote the commercial cultivation o Ocim
kilimandscharicum among the resource-poor commun
living adjacent to Kakamega Forest;
ii. Create revenue or the local community by processing Ocim
kilimandscharicumplant material, and producing and marke
Naturub products;
iii. Raise awareness about the value o conserving the Kakam
Forest; and
iv. Stimulate the participation o orest-adjacent communitie
conservation activities.
Background and Context
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
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55
Key Activities and Innovations
he Muliru Farmers Conservation Group mobilizes communities
ving adjacent to the Kakamega Forest to cultivate Ocimum
ilimandscharicum. As a high-value commercial crop, the medicinal
plant is an appealing livelihood option or the otherwise economically
marginalized local armers. Training is provided on domestication
nd processing. The plant is harvested by cutting the stems at
he base, and then plucking the leaves. Processing to extract the
ssential oil was previously undertaken on a small scale basis, mainly
t the household level. In 2005, however, Muliru built a centralized
processing acility. Farmers are supported to gather the Ocimum
ilimandscharicum leaves and then transport them to the processing
acility. At the processing acility, the plant material is weighed and
ried. Dried leaves are processed using hydro-distillation equipment,which produces essential oils. The puried essential oil is used in the
production o Naturub balms and ointments.
Production and marketing o Naturub
ince the processing acility opened, over 770 tons o community
ultivated Ocimum kilimandscharicum leaves have been processed
nd over 700 kg o essential oil have been produced. Over 400,000
nits o Naturub products have sold in both urban and rural areas
Kenya. The products have received wide acceptance in the market
nd are competitive with major international brands. Total revenue
rom the project thus ar has been over USD 70,000. Currently, over
60 rural households cultivate the plant on smallholder arms. Thecreage under Ocimum kilimandscharicum cultivation has increased
by 700%, rom 2.5 hectares in 2005 to 20 hectares in 2010.
n addition to producing and marketing Naturub products, Muliru
armers Conservation Group oers workshops on biodiversity
onservation and alternative livelihood solutions based on
ustainable natural resource management. It also operates several
ndigenous tree seedling nurseries, which are used or on-arm
planting, reorestation, and agroorestry trainings.
The most noteworthy innovation o the project is a new br
o registered medicine, developed and commercialized by l
communities. Not only is all cultivation o the plant commun
driven, the processing acility is ully owned, operated
managed by local armers. In addition to improved livelihoods, l
community members have attained new knowledge in mod
science and technology, industrial processing and production,
entrepreneurship, including in sales, marketing and managemThe initiative eectively combines traditional knowledge w
modern science and technology, and is an eective model
multi-stakeholder partnership.
Organizational structure
The Muliru Farmers Conservation Group is led by a Managem
Board comprising a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, V
Secretary, Treasurer, Organizing Secretary, and our Commi
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
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66
Members, each o whom is elected by the groups member armers
or multiple-year terms. The board is the highest governing authority
within the management structure o the MFCG medicinal plant
nterprise, and is tasked with selecting, evaluating, and approving
ppropriate compensation or the enterprises Overall Supervisor.
he primary responsibility o the board is to protect the armers
nterests and ensure they receive a decent return on their produce.
he Overall Supervisor, in turn, oversees the day-to-day running o
he enterprise, including human resource management, planning,nancial and physical resources management, undraising, and
roviding a link between the organizations sta and the Board.
The initiatives Field Extension Department provides initial train
to armers and links them to the Muliru enterprise. The departm
guarantees the quality o the raw materials used in processing,
ensures that armers are paid a air price or their produce. T
also assist armers in preparing arm plans and record keep
The Production Department, meanwhile, links the enterprise w
private partners in out-sourcing some o the production serv
that the enterprise cannot undertake.
Ater processing, Mulirus products are marketed by the initiati
dedicated Sales and Marketing department. Through this ofce,
organization has partnered with private marketing companie
undertake packaging design, market surveys, advertisements,
the distribution o products to dierent retailers. Through th
partnerships, MFCG has been able to engage with large Ken
retail chains such as Uchumi, Nakumatt, and Tuskys Supermarke
Finally, the group works at the local level through th
organizational units. The Farmers Cluster Representatives work
behal o small clusters o armers, representing their views du
planning meetings. The Plant Operators are responsible or the in
distillation o essential oils rom the raw plant materials. Nine you
our emale and ve male were trained in essential oil distilla
using hydro-distillers. They have since acted as Trainers o Train
passing on training to others in the operation and acilitating train
o schools and colleges that visit the enterprise. Finally, the gro
Security Ofcer is responsible or maintaining and saeguarding
enterprises properties, liaising with the provincial administratio
matters o security and reporting to the overall supervisor.
Fig. 1: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group organizational structure
Management Board
Overall Supervisor
Production Department
Plant Operators
Sales & Marketing
Department
Security Ocer
Field Extension Department
Farmers Cluster
Representative
ource: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group.
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
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7
Impacts
BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS
The main biodiversity impact o the project has been the conservation
nd sustainable use o the Kakamega Forest, protecting its estimated
80 plant and 350 bird species. As well as improving local attitudes
o conservation o the orest, Mulirus sustainable harvesting oOcimum kilimandscharicum has been undertaken as part o the
devolved sustainable management o the orest under the Mwileshi
Community Forest Association.
Mwileshi Community Forest Association
Kenyas central government authority responsible or managemento the countrys orests, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is in the process o
developing participatory orest management plans or areas across
he country in close consultation rural communities. Communities
re able to partner with KFS and local county councils in the orm
o Community Forest Associations (CFAs) registered under the
ocieties Act, who can sue or be sued. CFAs enter into agreements
with KFS or management o a orest under a management plan.
Kakamega was among three orests in Kenya selected to pilot
ollaborative orest management between local communities and
he Forest Department this led to the ormation o the Mwileshi
CFA, registered in June 2009 with an initial 25 orest user groups
these have since grown to 31.) These groups include all community-
based organisations around the orest involved in conservationctivities, including the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group.
The association is predominantly involved in the management and
onservation o Kakamega Forest, which includes maintaining an
ndigenous tree nursery and active aorestation; 10,000 seedlings
were planted in September 2010 alone. They conduct their activities
ccording to the Kakamega Forest Management Plan. The association
s also involved in sensitizing communities on conservation,
monitoring the orest condition, monitoring activities carried out by
member groups, training groups in nursery management, developing
ecotourism, and assisting in orest policing, while environme
education is largely carried out by Muliru Farmers Conserva
Group in partnership with local primary and secondary sch
through the Kakamega Environmental Education Programme.
Changing attitudes to conservation
Based on surveys conducted by Muliru, o the 360 househ
participating in cultivation o Ocimum kilimandscharicum ove
percent participate in orest conservation activities. The sur
broken down by activity, nds: 49 percent promote conserva
awareness among other community members; 59 percent h
reduced their collection o rewood, odder and timber; 37 perhave deterred other community members rom misusing o
resources; 5 percent have reported poaching and illegal o
activities to local authorities.
The harvesting o Ocimum kilimandscharicum is environmen
riendly. Plants are able to regenerate naturally and the commu
has a source o income that does not damage or degrade
orest. In addition to reducing local dependence on unsustain
extractive activities, the initiative has been successul at improv
local awareness about the threats to Kakamega Forest and
importance o conserving biodiversity. Naturub products
a distinctive message on their packaging regarding biodive
conservation.
SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS
Muliru activities cover ve districts in the vicinity o the Kakam
Forest, with a total participating population o roughly 2
community members, or 360 households. This is an economic
marginalized community with ew livelihood options. O
40 percent live below the poverty line and over 30 percen
households own less than 0.4 hectares o land, an important stat
in an economy where land is tantamount to earning capacity.
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
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The Muliru Farmers Conservation Group has positively altered
he local economy, providing greater employment and income-
generation opportunities. Eight community members are
employed on a ull time basis to operate the initiative. Day-to-day
management needs include eld supervision, quality control, and
oil distillation. More importantly, the on-arm cultivation oOcimum
kilimandsharicum has created nearly 900 jobs or smallholder
armers. To date, over 400,000 units o Naturub have been sold. The
product is available in major national store chains such as Uchumi,Tuskys Mattresses, and Eastmatt. It is also available in other outlets
n Kenya, such as shops and chemists. Participating community
members receive a share o revenues rom Naturub products three
imes a year, and have increased their income by an average o 300
percent since the initiative began.
Spillover benefts
There have also been a number o secondary benets o Mulirus
work. Based on surveys conducted by the organization, 31 percent
o participating community members have used income generated
rom the project to start small businesses that provide an additional
nd needed source o income. Additionally, 83.5 percent use theirncome or ood security needs; 57 percent to cover school ees;
26 percent to purchase clothing; 17.5 percent to buy livest
(an additional source o income); and 7.65 percent have inve
in housing renovations. Hands-on training and workshops
provided by private sector and relevant NGO partners, which
also given community members new and marketable skills.
The initiative has equally been a source o commu
empowerment. Smallholder armers are directly involved in
decision-making and strategic direction o the organizationaddition to greater access to nance, inormation on sustain
arming, and training opportunities, the initiative has provide
orum or social networking among community groups, ther
improving community cohesion, trust and social capital a
which are essential ingredients o the collective action neede
address common challenges.
The initiative works to ensure gender equality in all o its activ
and has aimed to ensure that women receive equal acces
productive resources and equal engagement in marketing
enterprise development. Women orm the majority o participa
community members and have been elected into leader
positions to govern the group.
8
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
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9
Sustainability and Replication
SUSTAINABILITYMuliru has established a 10-year plan or the distribution o net
rots rom the sale o Naturub products which will be allocated
s ollows: 10 percent or conservation activities around Kakamega
orest; 10 percent or a community development und, to be used or
rojects in and around Kakamega Forest; 60 percent or distribution
o participating members o the Muliru Farmers Conservation
Group; and 20 percent or a conservation research und or urther
iversication o other natural products.
According to projections made by Muliru, not only is the
rganization nancially sustainable, but it has signicant room orrowth. Naturub is the rst registered natural medicine by the
harmacy and Poisons Board o Kenya. As a pioneer in this space,
he organization has a competitive edge. Market intelligence has
stablished the total market or Naturub to be Kshs. 100 million
er annum. The market share has a geographic split o 80 percent
ural and 20 percent urban. Currently, retail chains contribute only
percent o the balm and ointment markets. The rural population
rovides the biggest potential growth demographic, and currently
ontributes 70 percent o the market.
ustainability has also depended on partnerships and outsourcing
ertain services beyond the local economy. Muliru has partnered
with advertising agencies or sales and marketing activities,igh-technology companies or manuacturing needs, and other
rivate sector companies that specialize in quality control. Other
mportant partnerships include the International Centre o Insect
hysiology and Ecology, University o Nairobi, World Agroorestry
Centre, Kenya Wildlie Service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute,
nd Global Biodiversity Development Institute. The types o support
nclude product development, quality control, incubation needs,
ntrepreneurship training, agroorestry guidance and advocacy, all
which are essential to the initiatives sustainability.
Eorts to make the initiative more resilient and sustainable
the uture include: expanding capacity building and training
communities in production, processing, and business managem
broadening local and international marketing eorts; put
research into the development o additional product lines; instituting changes in governance that balance corporate efcie
as well as the enhanced participation o women and youth.
REPLICATION
Muliru has shared its project model and experiences w
communities rom Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Arica
Nigeria. Over 830 people have visited the initiative to learn
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
10/23
Our advice to community-based
organizations would be: seek appropriate
partnerships for both technical and financia
assistance to be able to advance; sharing
knowledge can bring change; be ready to
invest time and personal involvement in theactivities of the initiative; be patient and
persistent as achievements take time and effo
to be realized; and be open to embracing new
technology.
James Ligare, Muliru Farmers Conservation Group
1010
and about their cultivation, production and marketing techniques.
nowledge generated rom the project has been exchanged through
ectures, demonstration activities, story-telling and exchange visits.
dditionally, the initiative has been covered by both national and
nternational television and radio media stations. As a result o
his coverage, two communities are actively applying the initiative
model: The East Usambara Farmers Conservation Group based
n Maramba, Tanzania (adjacent to the East Usambara mountain
orests) and The Budongo Community Development Organizationased in Masindi, Uganda (adjacent to the Budongo orest reserve).
n the opinion o the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, knowledge
xchange amongst peer groups is one o the most eective methods
learning new skills. It provides condence, drive and motivation
o undertake new initiatives.
PARTNERS
he initiative has established a robust partnership with the ollowing
takeholders:
International Centre or Insect Physiology and Ecology - A
leading international research institute which advances insect
and arthropod-related science, biodiversity research, and
biochemistry
University o Nairobi: This is a centre or learning and scholarship
committed to the promotion o academic achievement and
excellence in research through intellectual products
World Agroorestry Centre (ICRAF): The World Agroorestry
Centre is part o the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centres dedicated to generating
and applying the best available knowledge to stimulate
agricultural growth, raise armers incomes, and protect the
environment.
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI): A centre o excellencein orestry research and technology development, KEFRI
provides inormation and technologies or sustainable orest
development and allied natural resources
Kenya Wildlie Service (KWS): The Kenya Wildlie Service
undertakes conservation and management o Kenyas wildlie.
It is a state corporation established by an Act o Parliament Cap
376 and enorces related laws and regulations.
GBDI: GBDI is a non-prot institute that works to help industries
gain access to emerging markets.
he project has also benetted rom unding rom the ollowing
ources:
UNDP/Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme
The Ford Foundation
The BioVision Foundation
The MacArthur Foundation
German Development Service (DED)
PACT-Kenya/USAID
WHO Multilateral Initiative on Malaria/Research and Training in
Tropical Diseases (TDR)
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
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FURTHER REFERENCE
Muliru Farmers Conservation Group PhotoStory (Vimeo) vimeo.com/15780379
Video on Muliru Farmers Conservation Group (Vimeo) vimeo.com/43207923
Equator Initiative
Environment and Energy Group
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: +1 646 781 4023
www.equatorinitiative.org
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change
onnecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.
The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizatio
o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.
2012 by Equator Initiative
All rights reserved
Click the thumbnails below to read more case studies like this:
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348163563.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348153212.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348161007.pdf7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities
Kenya
MULIRU FARMERSCONSERVATION GROUP
Empowered live
Resilient nations
Empowered live
Resilient nations
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
13/23
UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES
Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo
or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth
their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practitione
themselves guiding the narrative.
To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser
that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succe
to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models
replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power o Local Action: Lessons rom 10 Years
the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.
Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.
EditorsEditor-in-Chie: Joseph Corcoran
Managing Editor: Oliver Hughes
Contributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding
Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe
Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,
Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu
DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis
AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, and in particular the guidance and inp
o James Ligare. All photo credits courtesy o Muliru Farmers Conservation Group. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbook and Wikipedi
Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, Kenya. Equator Initiative Case Study Series. New Yo
NY.
http://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=8587/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
14/23
PROJECT SUMMARYMuliru Farmers Conservation Group is a community-
based organization located near Kakamega Forest in
western Kenya. The group generates income through the
commercial cultivation and secondary processing o an
indigenous medicinal plant, to produce the Naturub brand
o medicinal products.
The enterprise reduces pressure on the biodiverse Kakamega
Forest by oering an alternative to the exploitation o orest
resources, while the commercialization o the medicinal
plant has heightened local appreciation o the value o theorests biodiversity. Over hal o the project participants
are women and 40 per cent o participants rely entirely
this initiative or their income. A portion o the enterprises
revenues are invested in orest conservation and biodiversity
research.
KEY FACTS
EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2010
FOUNDED: 1997
LOCATION: Western Province, Kenya
BENEFICIARIES: 360 households
BIODIVERSITY: Kakamega Forest
3
MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATIONGROUPKenya
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background and Context 4
Key Activities and Innovations 5
Biodiversity Impacts 7
Socioeconomic Impacts 7
Sustainability 9
Replication 9
Partners 10
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya
15/23
4
Kakamega Forest is the last surviving rainorest in Kenya. Locatedn the countrys Western Province, it is home to a unique variety o
cosystems and diversity o ora and auna. The orest is a cornerstone
local livelihoods, income and wellbeing. The orest provides
mber, uel wood, odder, building materials, and medicinal plants.
t contains watersheds that provide surrounding communities with
resh water, and sustains what is in essence a natural resource-based
ocal economy. Like many orest ecosystems, however, Kakamega is
nder threat rom population growth, local economic pressure, and
xtractive industries. The orest is being pushed beyond its natural
mits and is steadily being degraded. Human population density
round the orest is as high as 1,200 people per square kilometer.
High levels o poverty have led the 35,000 households in adjacent
ommunities to overexploit the orest resources, with timber and
on-timber orest products being harvested in an unsustainable
manner.
Ocimum kilimandscharicum - a potent remedy
One species endemic to Kakamega Forest is Ocimum
ilimandscharicum. This indigenous medicinal plant has been used
y the local population or generations, notably or the treatment
cold, us and coughs. Ocimum kilimandscharicum leaves contain
ssential aromatic oils. The leaves were traditionally added to boiling
water to release an aroma which was useul in the treatment o
espiratory problems and ailments when inhaled by the patient.he local population also used the plant as a mosquito repellant, a
ource o nectar or bees in apiculture, as a avoring agent, and to
rotect stored grains rom pests and insect inestation.
he Muliru Farmers Conservation Group ormed in 1997 with a vision
sustainably cultivating Ocimum kilimandscharicum as a means
conserving the Kakamega Forest and oering orest-adjacent
ommunities an alternative income source. The initiative combines
raditional knowledge with modern science and technology, and
rings together a diverse partnership rural armers, research
institutes and the private sector to harness the commercial vao this medicinal plant. The organization works with local arme
develop puried extracts o Ocimum kilimandscharicum which
developed into products under the brand Naturub. The brand
been ormally registered as a medicine in Kenya and is marketed
treatment or u, cold, chest congestion, aches and pain, insect b
and muscular pain.
The organization has our primary objectives:
i. Promote the commercial cultivation o Ocim
kilimandscharicum among the resource-poor commun
living adjacent to Kakamega Forest;
ii. Create revenue or the local community by processing Ocim
kilimandscharicumplant material, and producing and marke
Naturub products;
iii. Raise awareness about the value o conserving the Kakam
Forest; and
iv. Stimulate the participation o orest-adjacent communitie
conservation activities.
Background and Context
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Key Activities and Innovations
he Muliru Farmers Conservation Group mobilizes communities
ving adjacent to the Kakamega Forest to cultivate Ocimum
ilimandscharicum. As a high-value commercial crop, the medicinal
plant is an appealing livelihood option or the otherwise economically
marginalized local armers. Training is provided on domestication
nd processing. The plant is harvested by cutting the stems at
he base, and then plucking the leaves. Processing to extract the
ssential oil was previously undertaken on a small scale basis, mainly
t the household level. In 2005, however, Muliru built a centralized
processing acility. Farmers are supported to gather the Ocimum
ilimandscharicum leaves and then transport them to the processing
acility. At the processing acility, the plant material is weighed and
ried. Dried leaves are processed using hydro-distillation equipment,which produces essential oils. The puried essential oil is used in the
production o Naturub balms and ointments.
Production and marketing o Naturub
ince the processing acility opened, over 770 tons o community
ultivated Ocimum kilimandscharicum leaves have been processed
nd over 700 kg o essential oil have been produced. Over 400,000
nits o Naturub products have sold in both urban and rural areas
Kenya. The products have received wide acceptance in the market
nd are competitive with major international brands. Total revenue
rom the project thus ar has been over USD 70,000. Currently, over
60 rural households cultivate the plant on smallholder arms. The
creage under Ocimum kilimandscharicum cultivation has increased
by 700%, rom 2.5 hectares in 2005 to 20 hectares in 2010.
n addition to producing and marketing Naturub products, Muliru
armers Conservation Group oers workshops on biodiversity
onservation and alternative livelihood solutions based on
ustainable natural resource management. It also operates several
ndigenous tree seedling nurseries, which are used or on-arm
planting, reorestation, and agroorestry trainings.
The most noteworthy innovation o the project is a new br
o registered medicine, developed and commercialized by l
communities. Not only is all cultivation o the plant commun
driven, the processing acility is ully owned, operated
managed by local armers. In addition to improved livelihoods, l
community members have attained new knowledge in mod
science and technology, industrial processing and production,
entrepreneurship, including in sales, marketing and managemThe initiative eectively combines traditional knowledge w
modern science and technology, and is an eective model
multi-stakeholder partnership.
Organizational structure
The Muliru Farmers Conservation Group is led by a Managem
Board comprising a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, V
Secretary, Treasurer, Organizing Secretary, and our Commi
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66
Members, each o whom is elected by the groups member armers
or multiple-year terms. The board is the highest governing authority
within the management structure o the MFCG medicinal plant
nterprise, and is tasked with selecting, evaluating, and approving
ppropriate compensation or the enterprises Overall Supervisor.
he primary responsibility o the board is to protect the armers
nterests and ensure they receive a decent return on their produce.
he Overall Supervisor, in turn, oversees the day-to-day running o
he enterprise, including human resource management, planning,
nancial and physical resources management, undraising, and
roviding a link between the organizations sta and the Board.
The initiatives Field Extension Department provides initial train
to armers and links them to the Muliru enterprise. The departm
guarantees the quality o the raw materials used in processing,
ensures that armers are paid a air price or their produce. T
also assist armers in preparing arm plans and record keep
The Production Department, meanwhile, links the enterprise w
private partners in out-sourcing some o the production serv
that the enterprise cannot undertake.
Ater processing, Mulirus products are marketed by the initiati
dedicated Sales and Marketing department. Through this ofce,
organization has partnered with private marketing companie
undertake packaging design, market surveys, advertisements,
the distribution o products to dierent retailers. Through th
partnerships, MFCG has been able to engage with large Ken
retail chains such as Uchumi, Nakumatt, and Tuskys Supermarke
Finally, the group works at the local level through th
organizational units. The Farmers Cluster Representatives work
behal o small clusters o armers, representing their views du
planning meetings. The Plant Operators are responsible or the indistillation o essential oils rom the raw plant materials. Nine you
our emale and ve male were trained in essential oil distilla
using hydro-distillers. They have since acted as Trainers o Train
passing on training to others in the operation and acilitating train
o schools and colleges that visit the enterprise. Finally, the gro
Security Ofcer is responsible or maintaining and saeguarding
enterprises properties, liaising with the provincial administratio
matters o security and reporting to the overall supervisor.
Fig. 1: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group organizational structure
Management Board
Overall Supervisor
Production Department
Plant Operators
Sales & MarketingDepartment
Security Ocer
Field Extension Department
Farmers Cluster
Representative
ource: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group.
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7
Impacts
BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS
The main biodiversity impact o the project has been the conservation
nd sustainable use o the Kakamega Forest, protecting its estimated
80 plant and 350 bird species. As well as improving local attitudes
o conservation o the orest, Mulirus sustainable harvesting o
Ocimum kilimandscharicum has been undertaken as part o the
devolved sustainable management o the orest under the Mwileshi
Community Forest Association.
Mwileshi Community Forest Association
Kenyas central government authority responsible or managemento the countrys orests, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is in the process o
developing participatory orest management plans or areas across
he country in close consultation rural communities. Communities
re able to partner with KFS and local county councils in the orm
o Community Forest Associations (CFAs) registered under the
ocieties Act, who can sue or be sued. CFAs enter into agreements
with KFS or management o a orest under a management plan.
Kakamega was among three orests in Kenya selected to pilot
ollaborative orest management between local communities and
he Forest Department this led to the ormation o the Mwileshi
CFA, registered in June 2009 with an initial 25 orest user groups
these have since grown to 31.) These groups include all community-
based organisations around the orest involved in conservationctivities, including the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group.
The association is predominantly involved in the management and
onservation o Kakamega Forest, which includes maintaining an
ndigenous tree nursery and active aorestation; 10,000 seedlings
were planted in September 2010 alone. They conduct their activities
ccording to the Kakamega Forest Management Plan. The association
s also involved in sensitizing communities on conservation,
monitoring the orest condition, monitoring activities carried out by
member groups, training groups in nursery management, developing
ecotourism, and assisting in orest policing, while environme
education is largely carried out by Muliru Farmers Conserva
Group in partnership with local primary and secondary sch
through the Kakamega Environmental Education Programme.
Changing attitudes to conservation
Based on surveys conducted by Muliru, o the 360 househ
participating in cultivation o Ocimum kilimandscharicum ove
percent participate in orest conservation activities. The sur
broken down by activity, nds: 49 percent promote conserva
awareness among other community members; 59 percent h
reduced their collection o rewood, odder and timber; 37 perhave deterred other community members rom misusing o
resources; 5 percent have reported poaching and illegal o
activities to local authorities.
The harvesting o Ocimum kilimandscharicum is environmen
riendly. Plants are able to regenerate naturally and the commu
has a source o income that does not damage or degrade
orest. In addition to reducing local dependence on unsustain
extractive activities, the initiative has been successul at improv
local awareness about the threats to Kakamega Forest and
importance o conserving biodiversity. Naturub products
a distinctive message on their packaging regarding biodive
conservation.
SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS
Muliru activities cover ve districts in the vicinity o the Kakam
Forest, with a total participating population o roughly 2
community members, or 360 households. This is an economic
marginalized community with ew livelihood options. O
40 percent live below the poverty line and over 30 percen
households own less than 0.4 hectares o land, an important stat
in an economy where land is tantamount to earning capacity.
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The Muliru Farmers Conservation Group has positively altered
he local economy, providing greater employment and income-
generation opportunities. Eight community members are
employed on a ull time basis to operate the initiative. Day-to-day
management needs include eld supervision, quality control, and
oil distillation. More importantly, the on-arm cultivation oOcimum
kilimandsharicum has created nearly 900 jobs or smallholder
armers. To date, over 400,000 units o Naturub have been sold. The
product is available in major national store chains such as Uchumi,Tuskys Mattresses, and Eastmatt. It is also available in other outlets
n Kenya, such as shops and chemists. Participating community
members receive a share o revenues rom Naturub products three
imes a year, and have increased their income by an average o 300
percent since the initiative began.
Spillover benefts
There have also been a number o secondary benets o Mulirus
work. Based on surveys conducted by the organization, 31 percent
o participating community members have used income generated
rom the project to start small businesses that provide an additional
nd needed source o income. Additionally, 83.5 percent use their
ncome or ood security needs; 57 percent to cover school ees;
26 percent to purchase clothing; 17.5 percent to buy livest
(an additional source o income); and 7.65 percent have inve
in housing renovations. Hands-on training and workshops
provided by private sector and relevant NGO partners, which
also given community members new and marketable skills.
The initiative has equally been a source o commu
empowerment. Smallholder armers are directly involved in
decision-making and strategic direction o the organizationaddition to greater access to nance, inormation on sustain
arming, and training opportunities, the initiative has provide
orum or social networking among community groups, ther
improving community cohesion, trust and social capital a
which are essential ingredients o the collective action neede
address common challenges.
The initiative works to ensure gender equality in all o its activ
and has aimed to ensure that women receive equal acces
productive resources and equal engagement in marketing
enterprise development. Women orm the majority o participa
community members and have been elected into leader
positions to govern the group.
8
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Sustainability and Replication
SUSTAINABILITY
Muliru has established a 10-year plan or the distribution o net
rots rom the sale o Naturub products which will be allocated
s ollows: 10 percent or conservation activities around Kakamega
orest; 10 percent or a community development und, to be used or
rojects in and around Kakamega Forest; 60 percent or distribution
o participating members o the Muliru Farmers Conservation
Group; and 20 percent or a conservation research und or urther
iversication o other natural products.
According to projections made by Muliru, not only is the
rganization nancially sustainable, but it has signicant room orrowth. Naturub is the rst registered natural medicine by the
harmacy and Poisons Board o Kenya. As a pioneer in this space,
he organization has a competitive edge. Market intelligence has
stablished the total market or Naturub to be Kshs. 100 million
er annum. The market share has a geographic split o 80 percent
ural and 20 percent urban. Currently, retail chains contribute only
percent o the balm and ointment markets. The rural population
rovides the biggest potential growth demographic, and currently
ontributes 70 percent o the market.
ustainability has also depended on partnerships and outsourcing
ertain services beyond the local economy. Muliru has partnered
with advertising agencies or sales and marketing activities,igh-technology companies or manuacturing needs, and other
rivate sector companies that specialize in quality control. Other
mportant partnerships include the International Centre o Insect
hysiology and Ecology, University o Nairobi, World Agroorestry
Centre, Kenya Wildlie Service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute,
nd Global Biodiversity Development Institute. The types o support
nclude product development, quality control, incubation needs,
ntrepreneurship training, agroorestry guidance and advocacy, all
which are essential to the initiatives sustainability.
Eorts to make the initiative more resilient and sustainable
the uture include: expanding capacity building and training
communities in production, processing, and business managem
broadening local and international marketing eorts; put
research into the development o additional product lines; instituting changes in governance that balance corporate efcie
as well as the enhanced participation o women and youth.
REPLICATION
Muliru has shared its project model and experiences w
communities rom Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Arica
Nigeria. Over 830 people have visited the initiative to learn
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Our advice to community-based
organizations would be: seek appropriate
partnerships for both technical and financia
assistance to be able to advance; sharing
knowledge can bring change; be ready to
invest time and personal involvement in theactivities of the initiative; be patient and
persistent as achievements take time and effo
to be realized; and be open to embracing ne
technology.
James Ligare, Muliru Farmers Conservation Group
1010
and about their cultivation, production and marketing techniques.
nowledge generated rom the project has been exchanged through
ctures, demonstration activities, story-telling and exchange visits.
dditionally, the initiative has been covered by both national and
ternational television and radio media stations. As a result o
his coverage, two communities are actively applying the initiative
model: The East Usambara Farmers Conservation Group based
Maramba, Tanzania (adjacent to the East Usambara mountain
orests) and The Budongo Community Development Organizationased in Masindi, Uganda (adjacent to the Budongo orest reserve).
the opinion o the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, knowledge
xchange amongst peer groups is one o the most eective methods
learning new skills. It provides condence, drive and motivation
o undertake new initiatives.
ARTNERS
he initiative has established a robust partnership with the ollowing
akeholders:
International Centre or Insect Physiology and Ecology - A
leading international research institute which advances insect
and arthropod-related science, biodiversity research, and
biochemistry
University o Nairobi: This is a centre or learning and scholarship
committed to the promotion o academic achievement and
excellence in research through intellectual products
World Agroorestry Centre (ICRAF): The World Agroorestry
Centre is part o the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centres dedicated to generating
and applying the best available knowledge to stimulate
agricultural growth, raise armers incomes, and protect the
environment.
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI): A centre o excellencein orestry research and technology development, KEFRI
provides inormation and technologies or sustainable orest
development and allied natural resources
Kenya Wildlie Service (KWS): The Kenya Wildlie Service
undertakes conservation and management o Kenyas wildlie.
It is a state corporation established by an Act o Parliament Cap
376 and enorces related laws and regulations.
GBDI: GBDI is a non-prot institute that works to help industries
gain access to emerging markets.
he project has also benetted rom unding rom the ollowing
ources:
UNDP/Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme
The Ford Foundation
The BioVision Foundation
The MacArthur Foundation
German Development Service (DED)
PACT-Kenya/USAID
WHO Multilateral Initiative on Malaria/Research and Training in
Tropical Diseases (TDR)
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FURTHER REFERENCE
Muliru Farmers Conservation Group PhotoStory (Vimeo) vimeo.com/15780379
Video on Muliru Farmers Conservation Group (Vimeo) vimeo.com/43207923
Equator Initiative
Environment and Energy Group
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: +1 646 781 4023
www.equatorinitiative.org
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change and c
necting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.
The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizatio
o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.
2012 by Equator Initiative
All rights reserved
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