The Significance and Sustainability of Charcoal Production in the ...

Box 1. continues
Fruits are produced both for home consumption and local and regional markets; especially pineapple has
local importance in the dry hinterland areas. Pineapple farming, that was started in the 1960s in Dakatcha
Woodland according to Mbuvi et al. (2011: 18-19, 41), still remains a key source of income in its’ limited
growing zone in Mulunguni, Chamari, Watala, and Dololo, but the area under pineapple production is
shrinking due to the emergence of the millibug pest which are the vectors for the pineapple wilt disease
(Mbuvi et al. 2011: 36).
Local people stated in April 2011 in Mulunguni that besides the disease, the pineapple cultivation around
Baricho is not as vivid as it was some ten years ago because the young people lack the willingness to
continue their elders work as the charcoal production and tourism business in Malindi or other work in
Mombasa provides easier income. A price paid for the producer for a single pineapple can be as low as
Kshs25, compared to the market price of Kshs40-50 in Marafa, and more in Malindi. According to
Waaijenberg (2003: 180) the seasonality of production due to the long dry period in combination with lack
of storage and processing facilities reduces the benefits farmers can obtain from growing fruits. As the
harvest come in peaks, the markets are quickly glutted and prices drop. The outbreak of the pest forced
most pineapple farmers to get into cassava and cotton farming which actually took so much time and
space to grow, hence leading to more forest destructive activities to support their livelihood (Mbuvi
2011:41). Mbuvi et al. (2011: 42) recommend farmers to take advantage on the new, more suitable
cassava varieties developed by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI).
Recently off-farm work has become the major supplier or additional income and stability in
the area (Waaijenberg 2003: 190). Small-scale agriculture is supplemented by small-scale
enterprises engaged in retail trade, fishing, furniture making, hawking, handicrafts, and
charcoal production (Ikiara 2003: 245). Tourism is also significant field of economy: about 40
percent of the working population is either directly or indirectly employed by tourism
industry and services in the district (KNCHR 2006: 395). Canyons of Hell’s Kitchen located
in Marafa serve as one of the Malindi districts’ main tourist attractions (ibid. 38).
The socio-economic household survey from 2010 found that the average income per
household in the area is Kenyan Shillings (KSh) 82,516 per year with variation from KSh500
to KSh750,000 (Nature Kenya 2010a). As the local population is more and more dependent
on wages for its food security, the growth of employment opportunities is of major
importance. The Coast Province faces both lack of productive land and well-paid jobs, lack of
capital and skills or technology. Investment in rural infrastructure and in the urban and rural
informal sector is needed in order to promote small-scale industries and rural enterprises
(Hoorweg et al. 2003: 406). There is also need for improving the access to credit: just over 30
percent of Kenyans involved in wholesale/retail sector are able to access credit. Besides for
business, credit is sought for subsistence needs, school fees and medical expenses from
neighbours and friends, local merchants and Savings and Credit Cooperation Societies
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