Tubura has rewarded farmers in four sectors each of Kamonyi, Nyaruguru, and Nyamagabe districts with planted native trees that have high survival rates.

The Native Tree Festival, the awarding initiative, which also consisted of planting more native trees in Kamonyi District on October 8, aims to raise awareness about the importance of native trees and their role in supporting wildlife, improving air quality, and enhancing the community’s natural beauty.

The Native Tree Festival, held on October 8 in Kamonyi District, aimed to raise awareness about the importance of native trees in supporting wildlife, improving air quality, and enhancing the community’s natural beauty, while also including the planting of more native trees. It also aimed to encourage farmers to look after the native trees.

According to Jeanne Mukarukundo, the Tree and Out-grower Programme Manager at Tubura, the initiative is part of the Tubura programme, where at least 20 million trees are planted across the country every year, of which some are native tree species.

The recognition ceremony started on October 1 and ended on October 8 in Kamonyi District.

"In the districts of Kamonyi, Nyamagabe, and Nyaruguru, we plant trees of which 33 per cent are native trees. We have recognised villages that came on top in terms of having native trees with high survival rates,” she said.

The farmers who were recognised planted the native trees in a 2023 tree campaign where 20 million agroforestry trees were distributed.

The organisation has conducted a series of festivals aimed at celebrating native species and awarding villages that are outstanding for having the highest survival rate of both native and exotic species among the villages.

These festivals have created a platform to encourage farmers to value and properly manage both exotic and native species for the upcoming tree distribution.

"A village was recognised for having trees with a survival rate of 70 per cent since they were planted last year. This is a great initiative given that some agro-forestry trees’ survival rate is usually at 65 per cent. The awarding initiative will encourage more farmers to ensure the survival rate of the planted trees increases as they plant more,” she said.

She explained that native trees help to mitigate climate change since they reduce more carbon emissions compared to other trees.

"The native trees increase soil fertility and reduce soil erosion. Some also provide herbal medicine which can be transformed into modern medicine. These native trees have also economic benefits. They provide traditional and modern wooden products such as wooden chairs, and wooden milk cans, among others,” she explained.

By fixing nitrogen, such trees increase soil fertility and lessen the demand for synthetic fertilisers.

100 million trees planted since 2016

Mukarukundo said Tubura embarked on planting trees in 2016 starting with one million trees.

"In the last three years, we had to help plant 20 million trees per year. From 2016 up to the end of 2024 we will have planted more than 100 million trees across the country with a survival rate of 65 per cent average and above,” she said.

She also unveiled plans to plant 133 million trees in the next five years to be able to hit a target of 250 million trees in total since 2016.

Outstanding farmers commend the initiative

Dative Mukamana, a farmer promoter from Gasasa village recognised for achieving high survival rates of native trees in Kayenzi sector of Kamonyi District, stated that the award will motivate them to encourage more farmers in tree planting and protection.

"Native trees have a lot of benefits and, therefore, we have to ensure their survival rates. They help us breathe fresh air, provide herbal medicine, and produce traditional wooden products such as mortar used to pound food with pestles, wooden troughs, and wooden plates, among others. They provide organic fertilisers in addition to soil control,” she explained.

She added that the native trees also provide stakes to support plants of beans which are later used as firewood after harvest.

"Once the native tree seedling is planted, we protect it with a fence and irrigate it. Tubura has trained on tree management and with such skills the survival rate is high,” she said.

Jean Pierre Havugimana, another farmer from Buhurura village in Kamonyi District, reiterated that native trees provide raw materials for strong furniture such as cupboards, tables, and others.

"We appreciate Tubura for having distributed native trees which we would not afford. As they provide stakes for supporting bean crops and improving soil fertility, agriculture production has doubled. We commit to planting more trees and protecting them to survive. The awards will encourage more farmers to plant trees,” he said.

The Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Affairs of Kamonyi District, Uzziel Niyongera, commended Tubura for playing a big role in "greening the district.”

"Tubura is a great partner in planting trees in our district because we have been working together since 2016. The agroforestry trees they distribute are mixed with crops which increases crop productivity. They helped to have tree nurseries in every cell,” he said.

He noted that awarding outstanding farmers with high survival rates will motivate more farmers to plant and conserve such native trees.

"If you plant a tree and do not protect it that could be a huge loss. That is why farmers with tree survival rates were recognised. We are happy that Tubura will help plant 800,000 trees in our district this year. We remind farmers that the trees are their resources which they must plant and conserve. The trees should be harvested when they are mature,” he said.