Farmers in Ndenderu Location are being advised to put idle land under tree farming because it is a business venture that fetches the farmer’s high profits after harvesting.
Speaking to farmers during a field day at Ndenderu chief’s camp, Kiambu Sub-County forestry officer James Thairu said that agroforestry is a business venture that Kenyans are not familiar with. He added that the forest cover which has reduced countrywide needs to be conserved to avoid drastic climate changes.
He encouraged farmers who have at least 2 acres of idle land to put it under tree farming citing Limuru as one of the regions in the county where farmers have made the practice a source of livelihood.
Thairu advised them to plant fast growing trees like the eucalyptus which takes at least two years to mature, adding that the cost ranges from Sh15-25 a seedling and a 12 foot log goes for at least Sh2,000.
The officer said that the demand for timber is high since it is used to make furniture, electricity poles, building construction, biomass energy and printing in industries that deal with paper, therefore providing a ready market for the farmers.
He reiterated that the profit margins are huge, as trees are not labour intensive once they pass a certain height since they can survive on their own.
Thairu, however, advised the farmers to liaise with his office before resorting to venturing into the business for guidance on which tree species to plant.
Kamau Gitau, a resident and a farmer, said that he has grown eucalyptus on his 3-acre land and he could attest that they were fetching him good money. He encouraged his counterparts to follow suit.