As the long awaited rains start in various parts of Gusii region and other parts of the country, a group of widows from Kisii South sub-county were on Wednesday given 25,500 seedlings and seeds to plant.
Each of the widows was given 300 seedlings and polythene tubes to use in planting of the seedlings.The trees were given out at Itierio in Bonchari constituency.
Itierio Parish, which had 85 widows was the second one to benefit from the project, the first phase being Ester group that also got free tree seedlings in April last year.
Through the training they have received, the widows have started their own projects in their homes to help them get income to support their families. The project is meant to help them start income generating initiatives.
The project that has been moving from one parish to the other in ELCK South West Diocese is sponsored by PLANT ET TRE LMT.COMPANY, an organization from Norway in partnership with Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK), aimed at empowering women economically.
Speaking to this journalist, Francis Orang’i Nyapara, an extension officer for the tree planting project from ELCK said the project also targets schools where by more than 137 schools have already benefited. He said they have at least 26,000 seedlings in the nursery bed.
Among the trees according to the extension officer are Grevillea Robustar, Sesbania Sesbania, Markhamia, Calliandra Calothyrsus and Eucalyptus Saligna.
“The project started early 2014 with an aim of making women groups independent through planting and selling of trees. Its a source of income and firewood that will help them support their families.Through this, they will be economically empowered hence, poverty reduction,” said Nyapara.
He added: “We also target schools whereby we have planted trees in several schools in South West and Lake Diocese comprising of Kisii, Nyamira and Homabay counties.”
The extension officer said despite the project being geared by ELCK, beneficiaries across religion have benefited unconditionally.
He also revealed that the project would be extended to other two West Pokot and Central Diocese to help widows get empowered.
Among the primary and secondary schools Nyapara said they have planted trees include Gakero ELCK, Mwata ELCK, Bogitaa, Nyamaya, Kiabigori ELCK, Monianku, Nyagesa, Botoro, Bogiakumu, Suneka, Itibo, Gesure ELCK and Mititi ELCK from Homabay County.
Mr Nyapara advised Kisii residents to take advantage of the El Nino rains and plant trees in bounty.
“There are thousands of seedlings at Itierio Mission and Riamasagara center ready for planting during this rain season of El Nino. The trees are important for agroforestry. The species are equally important since they help in stabilising the soil fertility. This is the best time to plant trees because of the heavy rains.”
A widow from Bomwanda, Mellen Kwamboka Omwenga, one of the beneficiaries from the tree planting project, lauded the donor for the support of tree seedlings meant to eradicate poverty among homes.
“Am happy because through this project, am able to provide for my family and I have learnt to be independent having lost my husband who was a family breadwinner. The donor shared a moving story with us on how he struggled to make ends meet and his story inspired me a lot. I know through his bitter experience, that is why he started the project for the widows,” Ms Omwenga said.
Annah Opiyo, an administrative secretary for ELCK, South West Diocese, acknowledged that the project has created an impact among the beneficiaries.
She said the extension officer will be monitoring those who have benefited from the project to ensure they are planting the trees and seeds they are given and advice them on how to start their own nursery beds for the change of their lives.
“Beneficiaries from the first phase have their lives changed. The extension officer will monitor them to ensure they are doing the expected because some may misuse the seedlings and seeds,” Ms Opiyo noted.
According to the ELCK Director Communications department, Antony Marocha, the next and third phase of the tree planting project will be targeting the disabled and orphans.He was saying this when he visited another parish within the South West Diocese.