buvuma
The project, in partnership with the Buvuma District Local Government leadership, has conducted sensitization and mobilization meetings across the main island. These have been all-inclusive, with stakeholders invited to both formal and informal sittings to clarify roles and responsibilities, manage expectations, present progress on the pledging of farmland for oil palm growing as well as respond to any emerging issues. To date, over 2,550 farmers have been mobilized and sensitized on their roles and responsibilities including understanding the benefits of oil palm growing.
The tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MAAIF, NOPP and OPBL, for the establishment of smallholder oil palm plantations in Buvuma, was signed on June 20, 2022. The purpose of the MoU is to streamline contractual arrangements between OPBL and MAAIF/NOPP. A Contract Management Team was constituted, with the responsibility of contract oversight, including quality assurance and harmonization of prices of inputs and services supplied to the farmers, and in the future, the cost of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs).
The first phase of out-growers land was surveyed and mapped in 2021-22 for 323 farmers totalled 634.21 hectares in the four sub-counties of Buvuma Town Council, Nairambi, Busamuzi and BuwooyaThe second survey covered 171 farmers covering 366 hectares. In FY 2022-2023, a total of 1072.69 ha of land belonging to 631 smallholder farmers has been surveyed and mapped in Buvuma.","The Hub has a target of 2,500 ha of oil palm for smallholders, and for the FY of reporting, 349.36 ha were planted against the planned 500, bringing the total oil palm establishment to 1,304.18 ha. An additional 385 ha have been identified and surveying is ongoing. Table 1 below articulates the progress in the establishment of out-growers hectarage