FIELD TRIP C: MUGUGA/LIMURU
Cost: $30 (covers travel, lunch and refreshments)
Time: 28/08/09 8 am - 3 pm
Theme: General forestry research and research on genetic resources
Champion: Anne Mbora
No of People: 30
Description
Kenya hosted the offices that coordinated the defunct East African Agriculture and Forestry Research organization (EAAFRO) in Muguga in the mid-20th Century. This area covering over 1600 hectares has been the backbone of agricultural research in the country and also hosting the national headquarters of Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and extensive facilities of Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and KEPHIS. After a quick drive from Nairobi on a fast rising altitude, you enter the facility, and tour the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) headquarters and research activities. These include research sites, tree seed stands, live genebanks and a forest restoration demonstration site. Visit the Seed Centre then drive into the Peri-urban zone of Nairobi. You will notice the coveted position of Grevillea robusta as the choice agroforestry species in Central Kenya being stretched to its ecological limits both in the very cold and elevated area (here) and in the hot dry lowlands too. Participatory species selection to match these zones is a priority for future agroforestry productivity. This drive takes you all the way to Uplands where you can view the Great Rift Valley and be able to see the contrasting agricultural potential of the country as you view the rangelands surrounding Mts Longonot, Suswa and Margaret.
Above - Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) headquarters (http://www.kefri.org/) Right - Brackenhurst Baptist Centre main building (http://brackenhurst.com/)
After seeing large plantations of coffee, flowers and other export products interspersed with smallholder intensive agroforestry based farm holdings on the way back, you will briefly interact with Mr. Peter Kaigua a leading private nursery operator at the Tigoni Chief’s camp. At the Brackenhurst Baptist Centre you can see the restoration of indigenous plants species, many with medicinal value, in the site. This has transformed into a nature trail through which you can walk in after lunch. The indigenous tree nursery has some species not easily found elsewhere.
Suggested itinerary
0800 – 0900 – ICRAF to KEFRI Muguga
0900 – 1045 – KEFRI Seed Stands, GrevillearRobusta genebank and Nduruditu Forest Rehabilitation model
1045 – 1115 – KEFRI Seed Centre
1115 – 1200 – KEFRI to Uplands Rift Valley View Point
1200 – 1245 – Viewpoint to Brackenhurst Baptist Centre Limuru with a stop at Tigoni Chief’s Camp Tree Nursery
1245 – 1330 – Lunch at Brackenhurst Baptist Centre
1330 – 1440 – Brackenhurst Tree Nursery and Nature Trail
1440 – 1500 – Limuru to World Agroforestry Centre