Tree program impact by country
One Acre Fund runs scaled tree programs across eight countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here we share the latest updates on each program from 2022.
Overall in 2022, we estimate that we've supported the planting of 62.8 million trees, with ~56% surviving to the one-year mark (seedlings can perish due to heat stress, animal grazing, pests, etc; all of which we’re working to mitigate through farmer training). These surviving trees will generate an estimated $111.9 million of asset value (beyond what non-participating farmers earn from their trees) which is a boost of $40 per participating farmer.
Explore the impact of our tree program in each country:
Trees planted in 2022: 15.1 million
Participating farmers: 474,000
Our Kenya program significantly surpassed its target in 2022. This was the first year we distributed mainly via a network of decentralized tree nurseries and this approach helped support the planting of approximately 12 million seedlings during the country’s long rains season (March-May).
2022 was the first year the program also provided full-scale tree distribution during Kenya’s short rains season (November-December), which resulted in the planting of an additional 3.1 million seedlings, bringing the total number of trees planted in Kenya in 2022 to 15.1 million - approximately 45% above our 10.4 million target.
The Kenya team attributes this strong performance to the rapid expansion of its duka (retail shop) network, which has improved market penetration and unlocked robust farmer demand. We now expect our Kenya program to meet its ambitious target of planting a cumulative 67.5 million trees between 2019-2024. To support this goal, the Kenya team has already begun laying the groundwork for supporting 217 decentralized nurseries in 2023 (up from 94 nurseries in 2022).
Trees planted in 2022: 19.3 million
Participating farmers: 1,419,000
While late rains delayed our 2022 tree distribution, our Rwanda program still met its target, supporting the planting of about 19.3 million trees by mid-December.
2022 saw rapid growth in the program’s decentralized nursery model, with 1,140 community nurseries established country-wide, up from 560 nurseries in 2021.
And in exciting news, our Rwanda agroforestry team has signed a new long-term agreement with the Rwandan Ministry of Environment, solidifying our collaboration on tree planting, systems-change advisory, and harmonization of farmer training and extension services. This will support our efforts to address regular challenges with the supply of certified seed, especially for native tree species.
Trees planted in 2022: 4.3 million
Participating farmers: 180,000
Burundi once again surpassed its targets in 2022, supporting the planting of 4.3 million trees (up from about 2 million trees in 2021).
The team has taken key steps to strengthen its approach to tree impact measurement, rolling out more comprehensive tree monitoring and tracking.
Trees planted in 2022: 1.7 million
Participating farmers: 40,000
Tanzania’s tree program is the only one where missed our 2022 targets, with an estimated 1.7 million trees planted last year against our annual goal of 2.2 million trees planted. There were two main drivers of this shortfall: a modest decrease in adoption as farmers grappled with high fertilizer prices as well as major supply challenges.
In response to this, the Tanzania team is planning a transition to One Acre Fund-supported decentralized nurseries (linked to the country’s expanding duka (retail shop) network). The team now expects to procure up to 90% of their target trees through this model in 2023 and beyond, enabling One Acre Fund to better control the quality and supply of seedlings that we distribute to farmers.
Trees planted in 2022: 7.6 million
Participating farmers: 386,000
The Malawi program surpassed its 2022 tree distribution targets, supporting the planting of an estimated 7.6 million trees to over 385,000 farmers through a combination of its core program and broader ‘whole market’ decentralized nursery distribution, which included non-One Acre Fund clients.
In 2021, Malawi became the third One Acre Fund country to pilot an agroforestry carbon program, with 190 farmers enrolled.
Trees planted in 2022: 406,000
Participating farmers: 14,000
Our Uganda program distributed 406,000 trees to 14,000 farmers in 2022. 2021 marked the program’s first distribution to fully leverage decentralized nurseries (versus central One Acre Fund-run nurseries), and the team has made strong progress in recruiting tree nursery managers and producing high-quality seedlings.
We expect more rapid growth in 2023, and have set our targets to support the planting of 500,000 trees by 18,000 farmers.
Trees planted in 2022: 13.6 million
Participating farmers: 149,000
Ethiopia’s program was behind only Kenya and Rwanda in the number of trees planted in 2022, supporting over 149,000 farmers in planting an estimated 13.6 million trees (above its 10.4 million tree target). Tree survival remains the key challenge facing the program: an estimated 4 million of Ethiopia’s 2022 trees are expected to survive, translating to a 30% survival rate.
The team are actively working to address this, with results from 2022 trials (for instance, re-packaging seeds in airtight bags) already showing improved survival rates for grevillea.
Trees planted in 2022: 713,000
Participating farmers: 57,000
2022 saw the significant expansion of agroforestry in our Nigeria program. In its second year of full-scale tree distribution, the program supported 57,000 farmers in planting about 713,000 trees, a significant increase from the 172,000 trees distributed by the program in 2021.
In 2023, the program aims to support the planting of approximately 2.6 million trees by 100,000 farmers. While the vast majority of these trees will be distributed for free, about 50,000 high-demand, profitable seedlings (e.g., grafted orange, mahogany, and cashew trees) will be sold to farmers next season, helping to diversify the program’s offerings while establishing a potential pathway toward greater financial sustainability.
Invest in farmer-led tree planting
Invest in our farmer-led tree planting initiative and help improve the lives of more farmers today.
