The Elgeyo Marakwet County government has embarked on an ambitious programme aimed at conserving the environment and improving livelihoods through the planting of fruit trees in the county.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of the environment, Jason Lagat, said the county had already mapped areas that are suitable for the growth of various fruit trees, saying avocado and macadamia will be planted along the highlands, coffee along the escarpment, and mangoes will be planted in the Kerio Valley.
Speaking at Kamariny ward in Keiyo North sub-county when he distributed 20,000 Hass avocado seedlings, the CECM said the seedlings which will be planted this season will mature in the next three years and start earning an income for the farmers.
Lagat said the growing of trees targets four main goals: boosting agriculture, conserving the environment, improving the county’s own source of revenue, and enhancing people’s health through better nutrition.
The CECM added that the move was also in line with the governor’s agenda to plant 60 million trees within 5 years so that the county can go back to its 29% forest coverage, which has dropped due to human activities.
He said that the current exercise, which will cover the whole county, will see each household get 8–10 seedlings, adding that all the beneficiaries have been trained on how to take care of the trees to get maximum yield.
“With proper care, we are expecting each household to get 700–1000 fruits per tree, thus ensuring farmers earn an income that will address their financial issues in addition to paying taxes to the county,” he said.
He thanked the Nature Conservancy for partnering with the county in the provision of the avocado seedlings, saying the county welcomes all partners in the initiative to green the county.
By Alice Wanjiru and Valentine Jeptum
