Eco-blocks

Eco-blocks are land areas left intact without clearing. These areas are selected based on:

• Proximity to water bodies;
• The existence of special vegetation or a grouping of special vegetation types;
• The existence of areas of cultural significance such as Sacred Groves;
• The absence of all of the above features from a vast space of land (the idea is to give the vegetation / biodiversity some respite). 

Eco-buffers

Eco-buffers are 30 to 50 metre vegetation strips left along fringes of water bodies during land preparation. This approach minimizes the potential risks of contaminating the water bodies and maintains their integrity for servicing the community and meeting other biodiversity needs.

KIMMINIC is also investing in the construction of small dams for irrigation of nurseries and possible future farm irrigation. 

Tree upper storey

A minimum of four to six trees are left on every acre of land during land preparation thereby giving priority in many cases to trees of social and economic importance to the communities. This practice maintains an upper stratum of naturally existing vegetation that provides habitat for biodiversity and for supporting other community needs.

Nurseries

KIMMINIC’s experience over the years has demonstrated that tree propagation through the direct planting of seeds yields a success rate of over 95%. Nurseries are, therefore, not a major part of our operations. Small nurseries which in most cases are less than 10% of our annual targets are set up for refilling poorly germinated areas.

KIMMINIC uses waste sachet water bags that are collected from surrounding communities for seedling production while the small dams constructed on farms provide a constant source of water for irrigation of seedlings.

Top Soil Protection

Our land preparation method takes cognisance of the top soil as the ‘food’ on which the Jatropha plants survive. Care is therefore taken during the clearing process to prevent excessive interference with the top soil. Cleared plant debris is also incorporated into the soil by ploughing. This enriches the soil through the gradual decomposition of plant debris and it reduces the need for fertilization.