To help farmers plant the right trees in the right place, the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) is breeding tree species suitable for arid and semi-arid areas, reports News Ghana.

“Using the right seeds and varieties is crucial since it determines the survival of the trees,” said Jonah Kiprop, a research scientist at KEFRI.

The Kenyan government is encouraging farmers to set aside 10 per cent of their land to grow trees in a move to increase the country’s forest cover and mitigate climate change.

The article explains that these trees will also help to meet the growing demand for timber and firewood, with more than 78 per cent of rural people in Kenya dependent on charcoal and firewood for cooking.

Read the full story: Kenya breeds new drought resistant tree species

A separate article in News Ghana explains how Kenyan researchers are pushing for greater investment in climate-smart agriculture practices, such as agroforestry, to alleviate chronic hunger and malnutrition in the country.

Justus Ochieng and colleagues from the Nairobi-based think tank, Tegemeo Institute, are lobbying at the UN climate change conference in Paris, France for funding to boost implementation of adaptation programs in strategic sectors like agriculture and energy. They would like to see “a revamp of policy frameworks and capacity building for small holder farmers to facilitate adoption of climate resilient agricultural practices,” says the article.

Read the full story: Kenya urged to invest in climate resilient agriculture to fight hunger