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Mountain Partnership
Mountain products – improving livelihoods at high altitudes
Africa case study
Abstract
Over the last decades farmers and community groups in the Mount Kenya region have seen their incomes from traditional cash crops, such as coffee and tea, gradually decline. As a result they have sought to generate alternative incomes and improve their livelihoods by developing the propagation and processing of fruits at farm level. New tree crops have been introduced, in particular mango, avocado, pawpaws, passionfruit and bananas.
These Mount Kenya farmers have faced a number of obstacles of different types since they first began to diversify farm production. These difficulties were to a large extent overcome in the mid 1990s when various NGOs and international organizations intervened to assist the farmers in developing the tree crop sector. The organizations provided training in cultivation and processing, with the intention that this expertise be passed on to other farmers. Small-scale development projects and working groups were created thanks to micro-financing initiatives, many of which were formed by local women.
The projects that initially supported these farmers have been completed over the last four years, but the farming activities have continued. The challenges now facing farmers highlight that further expertise is required in terms of tree management and the development of good quality planting material, repair of equipment, market promotion and general organization of the farmer groups.
On the other hand, the women’s groups in particular have managed to maintain a constant income from sales, and have continued to operate for the more than four years since they last received financial assistance. Profits are pooled to contribute towards community needs, such as building materials and water harvesting equipment. The community has also benefited substantially from the vegetable and fruit processed products (e.g. jams, chutneys), an important nutritional source during the prolonged dry season when leafy vegetables are unobtainable.
As a result of the potential demonstrated by these enterprises, the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture has pledged to support horticultural development in a variety of ways, in particular through technical assistance and the training of farmers.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Mountain Partnership Organization, Membership and Governance 
Other Key Documents about the Mountain Partnership and mountains in general
Logos of the Mountain Partnership in English, French and Spanish
Events
First Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, or Merano Conference (Merano, Italy, 2003)
Second Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, or Cusco Conference (Cusco, Peru, 2004)
