Planting trees specifically for charcoal production can provide Kenyan farmers with lucrative income as well as prevent forest destruction, says an article in the Daily Nation.

It is estimated that in Kenya, 82 per cent of urban households and 34 per cent in rural areas rely on charcoal for their energy needs. While the government has policies that promote sustainable charcoal production and use, there are no incentives for farmers to engage in sustainable charcoal production, says the article.

The article explains how Dr Maxwell Kinyanjui (now deceased), a former statistician at the University of Nairobi, grew fast-maturing acacia trees on 27 acres specifically for charcoal production. After 6 years he harvested at least 1,000 bags of charcoal per acre, earning him KSh 40 million (around US $435).

“County governments should, therefore, take advantage of the existing scientific knowledge on landscapes, forestry and agroforestry to promote tree farming specifically for sustainable charcoal production,” says the article. It recommends that county chiefs liaise with experts to identify appropriate trees for charcoal production and provide seedlings to farmers, either frees or heavily subsidized.

Read the full story: Farming trees for charcoal easy way to save forests