Grevillea is not an indigenous tree, its roots are in Australia, but made it‘s long track to Africa as a shade tree for coffee and tea plantation.
Grevillea is an important on farm tree for smallholders as it is uncompetitive with other crops for sunlight, water and nutrients. It grows comfortably without reducing the yields and interfering with crop growth.
Caring of Grevillea
Grevillea is planted on boundaries around the farm or along contours, it creates an ideal conservation frame work for productive systems.
The contour lines of the trees are kept slim and tall by removing side branches. Polls and leaves should be harvested.
Benefits of Grevillea
Grevillea leaves provide shade. Their leaves, when laid down on farm, brings fertility to the soil. It also provides extra fodder for livestock in drier areas and acts as a windbreaker.
Polls of grevillea can be used as timber for building and firewood.
Planting
Grevillea seedlings are collected from a nursery and planted carefully, when they become strong seedlings and the rains comes, they are planted as trees.
After cutting, Grevillea grows back strongly and quickly.
