In the flood-prone regions of western Kenya, farmers like Francis Mayobo are finding hope through an innovative solution: bamboo. For decades, Mayobo’s farm along the Nzoia River, which flows from Kenya’s northwestern highlands into Lake Victoria, was repeatedly devastated by floods, destroying his crops and pushing him to the edge of poverty. But four years ago, after learning about bamboo’s flood-mitigating potential, Mayobo took action, planting hundreds of bamboo plants on his land.
“I was motivated to venture into bamboo farming after training and research on how it could protect my farm from floods,” Mayobo explained in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. Today, his bamboo plants not only protect his farm from seasonal floods but have also improved soil quality, enabling him to grow a variety of crops, including maize, legumes, bananas, and millet.
Mayobo is part of a growing number of farmers in the Nzoia River basin benefiting from a bamboo agroforestry project funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and local stakeholders. The initiative, titled “Ecosystem Restoration for Enhancing Livelihoods and Addressing Climate Change: China-Kenya Cooperation on Bamboo Technology Transfer,” aims to provide flood protection, income generation, and enhanced resilience for farmers in the region.
The project trains farmers in bamboo cultivation, helping them establish nurseries and supply seedlings for planting in flood-prone zones. Samuel Juma Magoba, another participant, has seen his one-acre farm transformed since introducing bamboo. Magoba now sells bamboo for furniture, ornaments, compost, and other products. “The bamboo has not only protected my farm from floods, but it has also opened up new income streams,” he said.
The impact of the project has been profound for farmers like Alice Makhulo, an elderly woman who grows bamboo on her seven-acre farm near a swamp. Makhulo noted that her family appreciates the cool breeze provided by the bamboo and that she has started selling bamboo stems to local furniture makers. “Bamboo has brought both environmental and economic benefits to my farm,” Makhulo said.
The bamboo initiative has trained over 200 farmers and includes a 25-hectare demonstration site to showcase the benefits of bamboo in ecological restoration. Dennis Otieno Ochuodho, a researcher at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, explained that the project is an effective, nature-based solution to climate-induced flooding. It also aims to restore the Nzoia River basin, increase food security through mixed cropping systems, and protect native species.
Wang Guoqin, UNEP-IEMP program manager, emphasized the broader environmental benefits, including the creation of carbon sinks, improved water conservation, and enhanced climate resilience. The bamboo farming initiative also seeks to revitalize local economies by providing a new source of income for river communities. Symprose Anyango, coordinator of Eco Green Kenya, highlighted how the project benefits women in particular, with many using bamboo for traditional weaving to earn extra income.
As the project expands, it continues to empower local communities by combining environmental sustainability with economic opportunity, offering hope to those affected by flooding and climate change.