Restoring Hope of a Community, One Seedling at a Time
Alworawa Model Farm produces grafted fruits and native tree seedlings, herbs, potted plants, fresh fruits and knowledge behind them. Our farm provides what the island needs to sustainably feed itself and heal its soil amidst climate change and variability.
Reversing decades of tree loss with low-input, drought-adapted indigenous agroecology.
Restoring Hope of a Community,
One Seedling at a Time.
Rusinga Island faces severe and continuous land degradation, which has resulted in low crop production and biodiversity loss. This problem is further worsened by limited conservation knowledge and a lack of practical alternatives to increase food production.
As you may know, this community lies in the rain shadow, despite being surrounded by one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. The harsh annual droughts, especially from June to September and January to March, together with disappointing and unreliable rains, have continued to cause serious damages.
We have seen our people depend on piecemeal solutions such as relief food. It is not strange to see families lose their crops and livestock to drought. It is paradoxical that this community is surrounded by freshwater lakes but struggles with food production and environmental degradation.
ALWORAWA provides tested and approved grafted fruit seedlings, native tree seedlings, herbs and potted plants. On top of this, ALWORAWA trains its clients and follows up with them to ensure that the products distributed thrive and survive. We walk with our clients until we see success.
We strongly believe in a greener and more productive community. We believe it is possible to address today's environmental challenges while increasing food production for more than 6,000 households within and without the island.
Grow what survives. Sell it at a price people can pay. Teach how it's done.
At Alworawa farm, we raise grafted fruit tree seedlings and hardy native species built to survive Rusinga's dry seasons, and we sell them directly to the households, schools, and community groups who need them, at prices ordinary families can actually afford.
Alongside the nursery, we run a working farm producing food crops for direct sale, because restoring the land and feeding people are not two separate jobs. They are the same job, done on the same acre. And because one farm can only plant so many trees itself, we share what we've learned including grafting, layering, and composting, precise growing, with any farmer, student, or community group willing to learn it.
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Alworawa Farm
Our working farm, growing fruit, vegetables and staple crops for direct sale to households, schools and institutions across the island.
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Native and Fruit Tree Nursery
The seedlings that make both the restoration and the income possible: grafted fruit varieties and drought-hardy indigenous trees, raised through to sale.
Indigenous Herbal and Botanical Garden
Companion herbs planted through the farm to manage pests naturally, without reaching for synthetic chemicals.
Indigenous Herbal and Botanical Garden
Companion herbs planted through the farm to manage pests naturally, without reaching for synthetic chemicals.
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Composting and Biochar Hub
Every offcut, husk, and pruning turned back into the soil instead of burned or dumped.
Composting and Biochar Hub
Every offcut, husk, and pruning turned back into the soil instead of burned or dumped.
View projectBuy direct from the farm.
Grafted fruit tree seedlings, drought-resistant native trees, fresh organic produce, and medicinal herbs — grown on Rusinga Island and sold with planting support included.
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Measurable Climate Action
On Rusinga Island
Proving that ecological restoration, community resilience, and commercial viability reinforce one another.
Restore the Land
Reversing tree loss with species built to survive here. Propagating indigenous and drought-resistant trees selected because they are built for the conditions Rusinga now has.
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Grow More Food, More Reliably
Proving restoration and a livelihood are the same project. Reliable harvests using climate-smart, low-input methods, drought-suited crops, and composting.
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Pass On Skills and Techniques
A single farm can only restore so much land. We share what we've learned—grafting, propagation, composting, and water-wise planting—with any farmer, student, or community group.
Build a Self-Sustaining Local Enterprise
Alworawa is built to earn its own way, selling seedlings and produce directly at prices ordinary families can afford. No handouts, no pilot phase with an end date.
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A self-renewing 1-acre island ecosystem
On Rusinga Island, equatorial sun and Lake Victoria water cycle through solar drip lines, indigenous herb borders, and a tree nursery, restoring degraded soil all year.
- 01Solar grid1.1kW DC array powers the pump
- 02Lake dripLake Victoria water, zero diesel
- 03Tree nurseryIndigenous seedlings with follow-up support
- 04Herbal gardenMedicinal borders for natural pest control
- 05Harvest600+ kg of fresh produce
- 800+
- Seedlings goal
- 600 kg
- Produce sold
- 1 acre
- Solar demo farm
- 120+
- Repeat buyers
Testimonials
Alworawa transformed two neglected lakefront acres into a thriving organic fruit orchard. The open farm ledger gave our community complete transparency.
Otieno Omondi
Land Partner, Rusinga Island
We source fresh organic vegetables, sweet potatoes, and heritage grains directly from Alworawa. Outstanding freshness and consistent delivery every week.
Sharon Akinyi
Hospitality Procurement, Kisumu
The student field study on solar lake-water irrigation was exceptional. A model of sustainable farming for the entire Lake Victoria Basin.
Prof. David Ochieng
Dept. of Agriculture, Maseno University
Their solar drip layout cut our water pumping costs dramatically. The consulting was practical and grounded in local island soil conditions.
Kevin Mwangi
Lake Basin Farm Owner, Mbita
From organic soil enrichment to multi-canopy windbreaks, Alworawa created an agricultural landscape that is productive, beautiful, and deeply rooted in island heritage.
Beatrice Achieng & Family
Resident Clients, Rusinga Island
Our partnership with Alworawa on shared sorghum and cassava plots delivered higher yields and transparent financial reporting from seed to harvest.
Victoria Basin Farmers Co-op
Agricultural Co-operative, Homa Bay
Ready to plant trees that
actually survive?
Reach out to our farm team to order seedlings, ask about produce availability, or arrange a visit.