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Kwale-KE, is home to over 18 indigenous forests, currently exposed to varied human & nature-related threats. The forests, commonly known as Kayas, are repositories of the spiritual beliefs of the local and indigenous communities of the coastal counties of Kenya. This is the reason the indigenous forests are highly revered. Local & indigenous people, in Kwale and world over, have for centuries protected these forests. The mix of spiritual & ‘unpolluted’ medicinal value derived from the indigenous forests are the greatest reasons for the survival for centuries. Restoration & conservation of these indigenous forests and the effectiveness of sustained monitoring are emphasis we continue to place in our action. However, the indigenous people still are and will remain our our greatest link to innovative approaches towards guaranteed protection of these indigenous forests.

There has been ongoing debate over synthetic and organic fertilizer for decades if not centuries. Proponents of the former opine that agriculture could never be commercially viable were it not for synthetic fertilizer. Further, it is pointed that the ever increasing world population would be faced with food insecurity if use of synthetic fertilizer in agriculture would be abandoned entirely. A number of benefits accruing from the use of synthetic fertilizer have been cited, including profit margins and abundant food production and yields. The ecological effects of synthetic fertilizer on the quality of our soils, as well as ground and surface water have equally been debated. For about a year now, there’s been growing concern over the quality of synthetic fertilizer being made available to farmers in KE. Investigative pieces have pointed to a possible attempt at selling farmers what may not be fertilizer in the first place. There have been reports indicating that farmers in certain areas within the country have purchased rocks/ stones/ pebbles packaged as synthetic fertilizer. The revelations and challenges abound, we are provided a rare opportunity to have a rational discourse towards the possible adoption of organic fertilizer/ manure both at subsistence and & commercial levels. The intricate web of ecological, social, health and economic benefits of organic fertilizer/ manure are worthy the attention of every individual locally, regionally and internationally. This first step starts with me.