East African farmers rewarded for letting grass grow under their feet | Robert Kibet

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda are taking part in a scheme to revive trees, with manifold benefits for farmers and their environment

Stephen Tumhaire rakes through the knee-high grass in his field to get rid of fallen tree branches that might stop the grass from growing. Sweat shines on his face, and he repeatedly mops it with his palm.

In 1972, Tumhaire's grandfather moved from the west of Uganda to the central Nakasongola district, a once sparsely populated area now made up of small farms created when farmers started dividing land among their children.