In the first year of the project (2004), KETSO nursed and planted approximately 300 Khaya Senegalensis and 10 Pinus Carribaea  at Makombeh. The project successfully bought and surveyed 8 acres of land between the Makombeh and Petifu villages. In order to scale up the planting of trees, KETSO decided to train local farmers to nurse Khaya Senegalensis to be ready for the planting season in June/July 2005.

In order to protect the seedlings from the sun, KETSO built a hut in which the plants could be nursed (see picture 1 & 2). 200 Castor and 200 Khaya Senegalensis seeds were given to the farmers to nurse. The KETSO team supervised the germination and first stages of growth. After six-eight weeks only 10% of the nursed seeds survived. The local farmers did not succeed in nursing Khaya in the dry season, probably due to insufficient insufficient watering. Because of this more seeds were obtained from a seed bank and nursed in Portor so that enough young plants would be obtained before the planting season. The nursing was successful and almost the entire area (8 acres) is filled with Khaya Senegalensis. A section of 1 acre was allocated to castor planting between the lines of Khaya. The young trees were transported for 150 miles from Freetown to the field, which was a costly undertaking (see picture 3 & 4).

For the planting of the trees it was estimated that 100 buckets of manure (total costs 1 million Leones) was needed. Because of this KETSO undertook the responsibility of digging compost heaps.
The digging of the holes is considered hard work, and the farmers do not really know how to fill the heaps and what to put in them. Because of this, the biomatter takes a long time to decompose. Since the relevance of compost has not yet been demonstrated farmers are reluctant to dig more holes. However, the next batch of tress seeds (Khaya Senegalensis and Tectona Grandis) will be nursed in February 2006 and the compost will be used which will mean a significant reduction in fertilizer costs.

In the first two years of the project (2004-2005), KETSO nursed and planted approximately 3000 Khaya Senegalensis at Makombeh. Other species such as Pinus Carribaea and Castor beans proved non-viable and non-commercial respectively. The project successfully bought and surveyed an additional 29 acres of land just after Makombeh and Gbanti villages.

Picture 5. Nursery at Makombeh

Picture 6. Mrs. Smit observing the construction of accommodation for local farmers

In order to protect the seedlings from the sun, KETSO built a hut in which the plants could be nursed (see picture 1). However, the chosen location of the nursery was questionable it was too far from the field and water wells. The nursery was therefore transformed into lodging accommodation for 2 farmers (pictures 5 & 6).

Forty acre tree farm developed at Makombeh village

To complete the demonstration farm we decided to plant the following tree species (see table 1 and pictures 7 & 8):

Table 1. Number of seedlings and survival rate 2005.

The following cash crops were decided on:
Ginger:                                     4 cartoons
Rice                                                     450 kg
Funde                                                   50 kg

A final evaluation of survival rate in December 2005 showed that 500 of the transplanted Mahogany did not survive due to damage caused by transportation and the fast growth rate of surrounding elephant grass. The areas reserved for Castor, Caillandra and Moringa were used to plant Funde and some rice. Unfortunately the harvest of these crops led to the destruction of several Castor and Moringa plants. A mere 6 Moringa plants survived, 15 Caillandra and approximately 1000 castor. The conclusion is that the planting site should never be used for these funde or rice.

Picture 9. Ginger treated with marcozeb against aflatoxine

Picture 10. Ginger beds

The planting of ginger between the lines of Mahogany and Pine is not destructive, because the trees can easily be distinguished and the beds are designed to fit within the lines. In 2005, four cartoons of ginger was planted for multiplication purposes. A rough estimate shows that the ginger had doubled after one planting season.

Initially, 5kg of teak (tectona grandis) was purchased from Tanzania and nursed. The nursing technique was new and experimental, only in May 2006 was sufficient seed nursed to cover 20 acres of land. Unfortunately, the rains broke out and insufficient land could be cleared for the amount of teak nursed. Learning from the lessons in the previous years, field nursing sites were constructed and a germination rate of 60% was achieved (see picture 11 & 12).

To extend the farm the following tree species were planted (see table 1):

Table 1. Number of seedlings in 2005, 2006 & 2007.

Village infrastructure (roads & bridges built) to improve the standard of living of the villagers

In exchange for land in Makombeh, KETSO agreed to improved community road access. The old bridge to Makombeh was made of palm trees and was falling apart. Cars regularly got stuck on the bridge. In addition to that KETSO plans on, digging a field well for watering the plants and a drying floor and storage facilities for the cash crops.

The building of the bridge started in February 2005 and was completed in July 2005. Getting the required materials (sand, cement, stones and iron rods) on the location proved more difficult than anticipated. The costs were high and less funding is left for the store and drying floor.

Awaiting finalisation of the road improvements, the bridge was opened by Eamonn Hanson and chief Pa Ali Kargbo in December (see picture 15).

Picture 15. Opening of the bridges by chief Pa Ali Kargbo and Eamonn Hanson.

KETSO decided to build 2 bridges (whilst one was anticipated) that connect Makombeh with Petifu village and the main road. This means a more than 100% increase in the estimated costs reserved for building. Because of this the building of the storage facilities was delayed. Based on the rice yields in 2006 it will be determined whether a dedicated drying floor for rice will be constructed. A floor and store will only be constructed if the yields result in a profit.

Ensure sustainability through the cultivation and marketing of castor beans, ginger, rice and funde

Table 2 provides an overview of the corps that were planted and yielded.

Table 2. Analysis of cash crops production at Makombeh in 2005.

In 2005 castor, rice funde and ginger were planted at Makombeh.

Standard of living of the villagers improved by developing a seed bank (e.g. oil palm, rice and funde)

The following crops were loaned out through the seed bank:
Ginger:                                     8 cartoons
Rice                                                     775kg
Funde                                                   50 kg

Local farmers returned the funde but proved incapable of returning the rice to maintain the seed back in 2007. Promises were made to return the rice in 2008. Because of the logistical overhead KETSO decided hand over the management of the seed bank to the community.

Picture 5. Bushels of rice put into bags for further keeping

Picture 6. Left: farmers accommodation, right: hut for ginger seed bank