Transforming Lives Through Productive Fruit Ecosystems in Kenya
We're helping Kenyan farmers maximize their land through a unique ecosystem of income-generating fruit trees like Hass avocado, mango, pixie, and macadamia, alongside soil-restoring shade species. Thousands are ready to plant—help us grow.
Project Status: February 2026
The Transformation is Underway. What started as a pilot project in Ngandu village has evolved into a community-governed initiative. We are currently scaling our operations to meet the overwhelming demand for sustainable fruit ecosystems across the Kirimukuyu Location.
10,000 Seedlings in Nursery: Our community-led nursery is currently nurturing 4,000 grafted Hass avocado seedlings for the April 2026 planting season.
Local Governance: Formally managed by our Community Based Organization (CBO) in partnership with the Area Chief and three Deputy Chiefs.
Active Training: Ongoing capacity building in Agroforestry and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for hundreds of registered farmers.
Proven Model: 3,000+ fruit trees already planted, moving farmers to a bounty harvest of Hass avocados, mangoes, and pixie oranges in the near future.
The Roots of Our Transformation
In the heart of Karatina, Nyeri County, the landscape is changing. For decades, the Kirimukuyu Location relied on coffee as its lifeline. But as coffee production declined and environmental shifts caused crop failures, a once-lush region began to fade, leaving farms desolate and trees disappearing.
The turning point for Kirimukuyu began in 2023 with Catherine Miriri. While visiting Murang’a County.
Catherine encountered a landscape-altering project: the HAE Group Forest Initiative, implemented in partnership with Treedom. What she saw there wasn’t just a dream; it was a proven economic model that balanced nature with profit.
“I learned that the trees in Murang’a were already bearing fruit after only three years,” Catherine explains. “But the real shock was the value. In Murang’a, a kilo of export-quality Hass avocados earns farmers over 100 KES, while back home in Nyeri, the few avocados we have fetch 20 KES or less.”
Realizing her village was sitting on untapped potential, Catherine brought the idea and the project title to Ms. Ilona Dane of HAE Group London and back to her community. She knew that by adopting this “fruit ecosystem” model, Nyeri farmers could quintuple their income, moving from 20 KES to 100 KES or more, transforming their livelihoods while restoring the environment.
Desolate Empty Land Spaces
The decline of coffee left many farms desolate. To survive, some farmers cleared their coffee bushes and indigenous trees for timber, furniture, and firewood. As the trees disappeared, the weather challenges intensified, leaving chunks of open, empty land and a community struggling to adapt to a changing climate.
From Feasibility to Action
To ensure long-term success, Dr. Nehemiah Mihindo (Effective IPM Association) conducted a feasibility study in Ngandu village. The findings were clear: reliance on a single crop (coffee) had left the community vulnerable. Productivity had plummeted from 20kg per plant to just 2kg, while the loss of indigenous trees had dried up 21 of the area’s 22 streams.
The Strategy: Agroforestry
In February 2025, HAE Group and Effective IPMA partnered to transition the community to agroforestry. By integrating fruit trees with shade and soil-restoring species, we are creating a resilient system designed to thrive for the next 40 years.
The Launch: Fruit Tree Seedlings Distribution in Ngandu Village, Karatina - Nyeri County - March 2025
On March 27, 2025, the HAE Tree Planting Club joined 30 local farmers to deliver and plant the first 700 seedlings. This initial investment from HAE Group includes:
- 2,000 High-Value Trees: Hass avocado, mango, and pixie oranges.
- Expert Support: Two years of intensive training, consultation, and monitoring.
- Staff Engagement: Connecting HAE and Datacair staff directly with the nature and communities they support.
This community-led approach does more than plant trees—it restores the human-nature relationship and provides a sustainable path out of poverty.
Exponential Growth & Appetite for Change
What began with a handful of farmers in Ngandu village has ignited a transformation across the region. As neighbors watched the first participants receive hundreds of Hass avocado, mango, and pixie seedlings, the appetite for change exploded.
What started small has now attracted hundreds of farmers—and with thousands more on the waitlist, we are just getting started.
Community-Led Governance
This growth is now driven by the community itself. To manage the expansion, local elders and residents have united to form a Community Based Organization (CBO). This initiative has the full backing of the Kirimukuyu Location administration, including the Area Chief and three Deputy Chiefs representing all sub-locations.
Scaling for 2026
The project is no longer waiting for external deliveries alone. The CBO has established its own local tree nursery, which is currently nurturing about 4,000 grafted Hass avocado seedlings. These trees will be ready for distribution in April 2026, moving us closer to clearing the waitlist of thousands of farmers ready to reclaim their land.