Institutional innovations in African smallholder carbon projects. Case Study: Western Kenya Smallholder Agriculture Carbon Finance Project: Vi Agroforestry
The carbon project is being built on the experience of Vi Agroforestry’s 25-year presence in western Kenya and, in particular, on relationships in the Kisumu and Kitale areas (see Figure 1). The targeted districts for the project are Bungoma, Kisumu and Siaya. The project divisions are Bumula, Malakisi, Sirisia, Wangai, Kombewa and Madiany. For this project to be additional, however, the areas where SALM interventions are being implemented will have to be locations within these regions where Vi Agroforestry has not yet operated SALM programs.
The total project area is 116,000 ha and covers mainly agricultural land (86,000 ha), dense vegetation/forest (20,000 ha), houses and compounds (7,500 ha), rivers (2000 ha) and infrastructure/roads (1,300 ha). The project plans to introduce climate-friendly SALM practices on approximately 45,000 ha, 22,500 ha in each of these two project regions, Kisumu and Kitale. Practices are not anticipated to be adopted on all agricultural land in the project area. The goal will be for 64,800 households to participate. The enrolment period is planned to last 6 years, with a goal of recruiting approximately 10,800 farmers per year. To reach these numbers, each of Vi Agroforestry’s 27 field officer will have a goal of signing up 400 farmers per year into the program. Farmers are eligible to participate if they have the ability to sequester 0.5 metric tons/year of CO2e over the life project, although it is expected that the average will be 0.75 ha/year/farmer (little confusing – different units).
Over the 20 year life of the project, the emissions reduction goal will be 1,236,373 tons of CO2e at 61,818/year and with an average of 1.37 per ha/year. The credits per ha numbers differ between Kisumu (2.0 per ha/year) and Kitale (0.8 per ha/year). (See Table 1). The total voluntary carbon units (VCUs), as credits as called within the VCS, are projected total about 494,549 because of the 60% non-permanence buffer required for the project.
Shames, S.; Wekesa, A. & Wachiye, E. (2012). Institutional innovations in African smallholder carbon projects. Case Study: Western Kenya Smallholder Agriculture Carbon Finance Project: Vi Agroforestry. EcoAgriculture Partners & Vi Agroforestry.
Link to publication
Accompanies following report:
Shames, S.; Wollenberg, E.; Buck, L.E.; Kristjanson, P.; Masiga, M. & Biryahaho, B. (2012). Institutional innovations in African smallholder carbon projects. CCAFS Report no. 8. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).