Kenyans have been urged to take tree-growing as an economic activity through tree planting on their farms.
Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alice Wahome, while leading the national tree planting exercise in Laikipia County on Monday, said that by planting as many trees as possible, Kenyans were securing their economies.
“We are not only planting trees, but we are also securing our economies and protecting the country against the impact of climate change,” Ms. Wahome said.
She noted that climate change had affected rainfall patterns as well as seasons, thus rendering most farmers who rely on rain-fed agriculture without sustainable livelihoods.
The CS urged the residents to plant many trees on their farms so that, in the future, they would benefit from the sale of fruits or timber when the trees mature.
“Today one can sell a mature tree for timber harvesting for not less than Sh. 30,000. Supposing you planted 100 trees and they are mature for sale, how much money would you make?” posed the CS.
She revealed that Laikipia County had a target of planting 250 million trees in the next 10 years.
Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu, who was also present, urged the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) to ensure that the planted seedlings are not destroyed by livestock that graze in the forests and instead designate grazing areas away from where the seedlings were planted.
“It would be a waste of time and resources if we don’t take care of the trees we have planted today until they reached maturity. I am calling on KFS not to allow the seedlings to be destroyed by livestock,” Irungu said.
Other leaders present during the function included Laikipia West MP Wachira Karani and Woman Representative Jane Kagiri. The leaders called for concerted efforts to protect the environment. Over 1 million trees were planted at various locations across Laikipia County.
By Martin Munyi
