Mitigating effects of climate change is one of the key current programmes in all walks of life after the government ordered that trees should be planted before all state functions.
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is engaging the locals and farmers through Farmers’ Field Schools (FFS) by offering them training and knowledge on the best practices towards increasing forest cover and environment conservation.
Beatrice Mbula, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forest in charge of Forest Advisory and County Liaison, said they are teaching practical and implementation of activities toward the betterment of livelihoods and environmental conservation.
Speaking in Kirinyaga County during the graduation of over 100 farmers from Kirinyaga, Murang’a and Nyeri counties who have undergone one-year training under FFS,Ms Mbula said during the period the graduates were imparted with technologies and skills that will help them conserve the environment as well as extend to others.
She expressed optimism that the 30 per cent forest cover by 2032 is achievable if everyone can take part in growing trees.
The conservator called the public to get the seedlings from Kenya Forest nurseries plant and take care of them, noting that KFS has over 12 million ready seedlings.
“The graduates have been learning for a period of one year on various technologies and skills which will assist in the implementation of environmentally friendly practices and improving livelihoods. Achieving 30 per cent forest cover by 2032 is on course is very possible if every individual plants 10 trees,”Ms Mbula said.
She added trees will not only mitigate climate change but also ensure food security.
Jerome Mwanzia from Green Forest said the reason they choose farmers in the training is because they are the ones affected most by the periodic change in climatic conditions and they are able to experiment with different species of trees based on existing conditions.
He said the farmers are easier multiplier effect as they can teach other farmers at their local areas every time. “We opted to engage farmers because they are the ones who suffer most because of climate change. They are also in position to experiment with different species of trees in their farms,” he said.
Mwanzia said the existence of community forest associations which are proximal to various forests in the region are key in doing environmentally friendly economic activities such as bee keeping and fish farming which is a source of income.
“Community forest associations, of which most of their members are farmers living around the forest, will help in doing economic activities which are environmentally friendly such as construction of fish ponds and bee keeping. These can be sources of income to them,’’ Mwanzia said, adding that the income will motivate individuals to plant more trees.
Kerugoya Ward MCA Eric Muchina urged the locals to take advantage of the rains not only to plant food crops but also trees. He said he will join hands with FFS in raising awareness and distribution of seedlings.
“We will offer support to the Farmer Field Schools through public awareness and distribution of tree seedlings as well as urge the residents to take advantage of the rains to plant both food crops and trees,” said Muchina.
By Mutai Kipngetich
