Muliru Farmers

Enhancing biodiversity conservation by using natural indigenous herbal products
2010 SEED Award Winner Biodiversity Nairobi, Kenya

This community-based initiative seeks to conserve the Kakamega forest through the promotion of alternative income generating activities and awareness among the local, poor communities. It is a partnership between several institutions and uses traditional knowledge and modern science to develop products on the basis of wild indigenous medicinal plants. The core business of the initiative is the commercial cultivation of Ocimum kilimandscharicum, processing the plant materials into essential oil, manufacturing, and subsequently marketing, the finished Naturub®products. The initiative is committed to meeting the growing global demand for environmentally-friendly natural products, offering added value in addition to contributing to biodiversity conservation. The initiative is the only enterprise in Kenya engaged in the commercial cultivation and processing of Ocimum kilimandscharicum and currently faces no competitors. 

Eco-Inclusive Impacts

Muliru Farmers contributes to biodiversity conservation and empowers the local community to engage in alternative income-generating activities by developing products from wild indigenous medicinal plants.
  • Empowering the local population specially women by ensuring participation in decision-making, access to finance and markets, as well as information and training. 
  • Promoting the conservation of forest resources by reducing the use of firewood, fodder and timber.
  • Raising awareness among other community members to deter them from misuse of natural resources. 
  • Enabling the community members to cover basic needs for their families and improve their economic situation.
  • Encouraging the participants to start alternative businesses.

Partners

This enterprise is supported through its partnerships with various stakeholders, ranging from national and international organisations, investors, research institutes, suppliers, governmental bodies, NGOs, other social and environmental enterprises and more.

ICIPE provides backstopping in natural products chemistry, product development, production, quality control and entrepreneurship. 

The University of Nairobi provides research through products development.

ICRAF promotes the application of best agricultural practices and protection of the environment through agro-forestry.

KEFRI provides information and technologies for sustainable development of natural resources.

KWS works together with the enterprise to enhance conservation and management of the Kakamega forest.

SEED Library

In the SEED Library you can read case studies and briefs and explore recent news and blog posts related to the enterprise.
Read more

Collaborate with Muliru Farmers

Use this form to contact the enterprise directly. The submission of this form notifies SEED of your contact request.
I consent to having SEED collect my details and protect my submitted data in line with privacy policy
Wilber Lwande

Meet more enterprises in the sector

Green Oyster Initiative


Biodiversity Kumasi, Ghana

Trees for Global Benefit

2013 SEED Low Carbon Award Winner
Biodiversity Kampala, Uganda

Kibebe

2019 SEED Africa Award Winner
Biodiversity Lilongwe, Malawi

Kwanzaa Eco Farm Initiative


Biodiversity Kampala, Uganda

Thrive

2011 SEED Award Winner
Biodiversity Hout Bay, South Africa

Village Inc. Africa

2014 SEED Africa Award Winner
Biodiversity Babati, Tanzania