Farmers in Kamwangi have been advised to consider making private commercial forests at their households to earn income from the increasing demand for wood products.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon during the government department holiday breaking ceremony at Kamwangi tree farm where the department leaders planted trees, the sub county environment and health officer Beatrice Mueni said that with the increased tree farming at the household level, the rampant invasion of government forests in the region would be contained.
"Tree farming is cheaper than the ordinary crop farming where a farmer has to incur a lot of expenses in purchasing farm inputs with no assurance of realizing the expected yields," she said.
Mueni observed that wood products had a ready market across the county considering that there were many ongoing development projects initiated by the national and county governments along with an expanding population which was in need of wood fuel.
She reiterated the need for everybody in the sub county to support initiatives meant to protect and conserve the environment including forest areas adding that a well taken care of environment translates into improved livelihoods.
"I am also urging farmers to consider venturing into tree farming and seeking professional and technical guidance on the crucial requirements so as to go for the most appropriate and environment friendly tree species for their respective areas," she said.
The ceremony was attended by both sub county and national government departmental leaders in the area who all planted a tree each before breaking for holiday.