Gitugi Tea Factory Community Library Renovated and Restocked   |    Promoting sustainability in the smallholder tea sector   |    Diar Awards Win!   |   


Empowering Rural Communities and Households in Kenya with Renewable Energy (ERCHRE)

Status: Completed

Period: April 2019 – May 2022

The project’s overall objective was to improve the incomes, livelihoods, health and self-reliance of growers and simultaneously lower deforestation rates and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in tea growing zones. This will focus on sensitizing farmers and promotion of other alternative sources of energy such as biomass, solar and improved/energy saving cooking stoves with an aim of conserving the environment.

Impact

Household Component

The following activities were carried out towards achieving this component during this reporting period:

  • So far 461,071 trees have been propagated, distributed and planted by farmers, schools and partners.
  • A total of 12 tree nurseries have been established and house various varities of fruit, exotic and indigenous tree seedlings.
  • During project, KTDA Foundation and RA engaged Basics Africa to train 241 TESAs and 70 FSCs on climate change and renewable energy.
  • 501 products have been sold which translates to close to over 2000 people who continue to benefit from using improved cook stoves and other renewable energy products. This also led to increased income for 29 youth and women who have been recruited as Last Mile Entrepreneurs in the value chain

Biomass (Briquette Component)

  • During this reporting period, 818,437 kilograms of briquettes were consumed by 22 factories that have partially switched to using briquettes.

Partner

RainForest Alliance and IKEA Foundation