The name Athanus Morara Moindi may not be familiar to you but when it comes to environmental conservation, he is a hero.
This farmer from Mobamba, Kebirigo in Nyamira County reaps from selling bamboo seedlings.
Bamboo is a highly renewable resource which manufacturers have begun utilising in a fascinating way. Older bamboo cane wood can be used as construction materials, decorations or even making musical instruments.
Furniture from bamboo has been found to give recreational places a modern look as they can be attractively bound with leather or rattan.
Globally, bamboo fabrics are said to be of as good quality as silk and cotton and cheaper at that.
Despite being a bodaboda operator, Morara, 36, says that the bamboo nursery is a major supplement to his income. He says that he intends to expand it to being his main source of income.
"I started raising bamboo seedlings to sustain my family after finding out that being a bodaboda operator wasn't raising sufficient funds to cater for the family needs,” he says.
Bamboo is grown in homesteads, town streets, business premises compounds, parks and recreational places for beautification and Morara has found it necessary to tap from the demand since December last year.
"I have been releasing over 500 seedlings every four months for a year now," he adds.
Morara has called upon determined youths and members of the public to also venture into Bamboo seedlings raising as it is less costly yet very lucrative.
"A seedling goes for at least Sh50. This, however, may vary at times depending on the buyer. My capacity has not yet been able to satisfy the demand hence the public should also consider this opportunity," advises Morara.
There are two ways of raising bamboo seedlings. They can be raised hydroponically (in a container with water) or in moist soil.
Morara reveals that keeping the bamboo cuttings in very wet soil would make them rot failing to sprout. When raising the seedlings in water, the gravel has to be kept at the bottom of the container to keep the cutting steady.
Sunlight has to be filtered to avoid scorching the sprouting buds and seedlings leaves.
"I chose to raise them using soil in polythene bags as it only needs keeping the soil moist. Wet soil can be disastrous," Morara reveals.
Morara says he learned how to raise bamboo seedlings on the internet.