Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Patrick Musango has called on women and youth groups to start commercial tree nurseries as an economic activity to supplement their incomes and uplift living standard.
Mr. Musango made the remarks while he led a group of women in planting 3000 tree seedlings in government office yards in the County taking advantage of the ongoing El-nino rains.
He said tree nursery projects has been of economic value in other parts of the country where the those involved in the activity had been making millions of money especially when tree demand is high like during the rainy season.
The administrator however asked area women and the youth to take advantage of free rain water to initiate tree nursery projects which would benefit them in rainy season when the prices are improved.
Mr. Musango said that Isiolo County targets to plant two million trees in a view to avert desertification in lowlands.
He also commended the Mzalendo Community Based Organization for donating a number of tree seedlings and advised them to take advantage of the current rain by planting more trees.
Mr. Musango directed heads of department to plant at least 20 tree seedlings in their office compounds as a way of beautifying the area and increasing trees coverage in the public institutions.
The DCC urged non-governmental organizations in the County to focus on tree planting in their programmes in order to reduce desertification and help the industrious youth and women groups who are undertaking tree nursery projects.
The Mzalendo CBO treasurer Ms. Emily Mutua said that the groups is out to prioritize tree planting in Government compounds since the security near offices was almost totally guaranteed and later extend to schools and hospitals.
Ms. Mutua said they have started 20,000 seedlings nursery and were preparing to grow the capacity to 100,000 seedlings by the end of the current year.
By Abduba Mamo
