Better Globe Forestry's work in Africa, 2012
2012 is behind us, and for Better Globe Forestry the year brought changes and improvements. We met some obstacles along the road as a few things were held back, but we are happy that we reached most of our goals.
Better Globe Forestry in Kenya planted trees throughout the year. We also had a strong focus on maintenance, research and development to make sure that everything is under control when we start to plant large quantities of trees. In 2012 we planted about 100,000 trees, which is roughly equivalent to the number of trees which were sold the same year. At year end, we had approximately 19,000 mango trees and 5,000 mukau trees at the nursery in Nyongoro, and about 10,000 mukau trees ready in Kiambere.
Nyongoro stands out as a top priority area for Better Globe Forestry in the years to come. Here we will have a laboratory for cloning trees and also factories to produce products from mukau and other trees. Our planting area in Nyongoro is strategically located near the planned new port, which will be built in Lamu, on the North Coast of Kenya.
Grafting* of mango trees is now in full throttle in Nyongoro, before planting can take place within a few months. This is a meticulous job that needs to be done correctly in order to achieve the desired results. After the 19,000 mango plants have been grafted and planted out, this will be the largest mango plantation in Kenya.
* Grafting – to take a good root and make a slit in the top. Then we plant a new tree by inserting and attaching the new scion of the tree into the slit of the root. By mixing the two trees, we get a cross between them, which will improve the quality of the tree.
 During the year, we signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with ICRAF (World Agro Forestry Centre). ICRAF is a highly recognized institution for forestry and development in Africa. They are working with partners including the World Bank and several other organizations. This is a great opportunity for us and hopefully the start of an extensive collaboration for a positive development in Africa.
We also signed a contract with K-Rep in 2012. K-Rep is the most serious microfinance company in Kenya and they will undertake Better Globes work with microfinance by targeting poor farmers around our plantations.
K-Rep has branches all over Kenya and can deal with Better Globe's outgrower systems everywhere and run this entire section, including our donation trees and water support. This way we ensure that all this is taken care of in the best way. For years, Better Globe has researched a good solution for microfinance. We are therefore pleased to partner with the best institution in Kenya in this area, instead of starting up microfinance ourselves.
Currently, K-Rep had meetings with approximately 200 families in the Mboti district. The families there will be involved in the startup of Better Globe Forestry's outgrower schemes and will receive much help in the future. The start-up has taken longer than expected, but now the process has started. In the course of 2013, we plan to lay a good foundation for the microfinance section to work well in terms of our goals, such that we can advance with our experience and offer a good microfinance system in the years to come. We and and K-Rep are both optimistic and excited about this unique project.
Left picture: To the left is Emma Kimani, Director of K-rep Fedha Services Ltd. along with Jean-Paul Deprins, Managing Director at Better Globe Forestry. The picture was taken at the signing of a contract for establishing a village bank (micro-credit) in Nguni, near Mboti.
Right picture: Here is the K-Rep Village Bank in Nuu.
About twenty of Better Globe's customers from Norway, Sweden and Greece visited our tree plantations in Kiambere, Nyongoro and Sosoma in February 2012. In Sosoma they visited the Mboti school. From donation packages purchased by Better Globe's customers, we were able to upgrade this school with new flooring, water tanks and other upgrades of nearby buildings.
People from the trip thought this was an unforgettable journey of a lifetime. After the group returned home, Jan Bolmeson took the initiative to post on Facebook a request for people to sponsor money to build a new classroom for preschool children in Mboti; this turned out to be a great success! The new classroom is now complete and taken into use to the delight of all the little children.
Better Globe Forestry has, for more than five years and with meetings every other month, built up trust and good relationships with the locals in Nyongoro. In the summer of 2012, we finally turned a comprehensive MOU into a solid contract of 15,000 hectares with arable soil, signed by all agencies, including the Government of Kenya.
Last year we used a recognized geological firm to calculate the possibility of finding water in Sosoma. Analyses from the firm were positive and they started drilling for water in late October. They drilled to 120 meters without finding any trace of water, which was a severe setback for us. We are currently working to find another company that can do the job better and hopefully find water at the next drill. Until this happens, we will just continue to buy water for those in the are in need.
As you have already read, we had some challenges along the way in 2012, but all in all 2012 was a year with several new developments and again a step in the right direction for Better Globe. We really look forward to this year and are planning a large-scaled marketing of Better Globe internationally; already during the first quarter. It all starts with the launch of my latest book, the 10th in the series, and its title is:
"CHARITY – The Better Globe Way"
You have something to look forward to!
Make it a great day!
 Rino Solberg
Chairman/CEO
Better Globe Group
P.O.Box 410
NO-1502 Moss, NORWAY
Tel. +47 6925 0001
Email: rino@betterglobe.com
Web: www.betterglobe.com
If you want to feel good, do something for others at www.childafrica.org
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