Abstract:
This paper examines the role of primary farmer co-operatives in implementing reforestation programme
and the rate of tree planting among co-operative members. It also assesses the survival mute of planted
trees and identifies constraints faced by farmers in implementing the reforestation programme. The study
applied a cross-sectional research design in which a variety of methods including personal observations,
questionnaires and focus group discussions were applied. Sample size was 60 primary-farmer cooperative members, 20 members from each of the three primary-farmer co-operatives, selected
purposively and systematically from the most affected division. Sample size represented 7% of total
study population which is 862 co-operative members. Data were summarized and analyzed using
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) in which both descriptive and inferential statistics were
established. ANOVA was used to test if there is statistically significant difference in performance
between three cooperatives. Results indicate a poor performance of the reforestation programme because
of the observed low tree planting rate and a low survival rate of 39.6 %. This study recommends that
farmers should be separated from livestock keepers to avoid grazing on tree farms and also there is a
need to introduce strict by-laws, penalties and fines to those who deliberately burn the forests.
