Uganda Gatsby Trust – Club tree biotechnology FINAL PROJECT REPORT

Overview

The Gatsby Club Tree Biotechnology Project (GCTBP), implemented by Uganda Gatsby Trust and supported by Kilimo Trust, aimed to enhance the production and distribution of clonal tree planting materials in Uganda. The project focused on improving the supply and quality of tree products, increasing rural employment opportunities, and promoting environmental sustainability.

Project Goals and Objectives

• Overall Goals:
  1. Improve the supply and quality of tree products to alleviate wood scarcity.
  2. Increase rural employment opportunities.
  3. Enhance environmental sustainability.
• Project Purpose:
  1. Scale out the capacity to produce clonal tree planting material.
  2. Enhance production and distribution of clones and improved seedlings.
  3. Promote clonal technology uptake and clonal forestry.
• Specific Objectives:
  1. Establish 4-5 low-cost regional clonal propagation nurseries.
  2. Establish 42 hardening seedling nurseries by 2009.
  3. Link tree farmers to credit and skills to promote large-scale tree planting.
  4. Establish seedling distribution systems.
  5. Encourage locals to establish their own woodlots.
  6. Establish a sustainable marketing system for tree harvests.

Methodology

1. Awareness and Training: Conducted baseline surveys, mobilized Gatsby clubs, and trained club members and staff in nursery management and clonal propagation.
2. Operationalize Kifu Clonal Nursery: Revamped the Kifu nursery to generate initial material for multiplication.
3. Establish Regional Nurseries: Set up low-cost regional clonal propagation nurseries.
4. Private Seedling Nurseries: Established private seedling and hardening nurseries at Gatsby club locations.
5. Microcredit Scheme: Provided loans to farmers and nursery operators to finance technology uptake.
6. Research: Demonstrated the superiority and suitability of clonal technology.
7. Partnerships: Linked with key players in the forestry sector.

Key Outputs and Outcomes

1. Establishment of Nurseries:
   • Three functional regional nurseries established, producing over 889,552 clonal plantlets.
   • 17 hardening club nurseries initiated, producing and selling over 2.3 million seedlings.
2. Loan Scheme:
   • Over 300 growers benefited from the loan fund, planting a total of 500 hectares of plantations.
3. Tree Planting:
   • Increased forest cover by 1,763 hectares, with 367 hectares planted with clonal eucalyptus.
   • 1,740 people involved in tree planting, including 307 farmers planting clonal eucalyptus.
4. Research and Development:
   • Evaluated growth performance of clones and produced plantation guidelines.
   • Generated research papers on pests, diseases, and socio-economic impacts of clonal eucalyptus.

Challenges and Future Strategy

• Challenges:
  • Need for further decentralization of distribution.
  • Involvement of the private sector in clone production.
  • Reducing nursery production costs.
  • Increasing the genetic base and meeting high demand for clones.
• Future Strategy:
  • Focus on increasing production, further decentralization, promoting extension and marketing activities, and breeding more materials for trials.

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