Tree-Nurseries have contributed to the creation of jobs for the youth since President William Ruto launched a 15 billion tree planting initiative for the next 10 years.
Since the directive was issued about five months ago, the establishment of tree nurseries alongside the roads and river-banks has immensely increased lately.
Private tree nursery owners have been earning a lot as demand for trees in institutions including schools and colleges has soared in line with the initiative.
Nampaso Daniel, a youth in Narok, who owns a tree nursery, said the business has been booming adding: ‘Starting a tree nursery doesn’t require someone to incur a lot of expenses and no skills are required. I can say, the business is simple even though, one may require to understand tree species.’
An understanding of tree species, Nampaso added will help in guiding starters which tree seedlings are in high demand, which species to plant in specific areas and climate conditions under which various tree species do well.
Nampaso solely started the nursery in 2019 but now employs six youths in her nursery alongside the Narok River in Narok town.
‘I have employed six youths; two being security guards working on shifts, two who help in watering seedlings, one that manages the operations of the nursery and another that sells the seedlings,’ said Nampaso.
She described the tree-nursery business as a source of income for the owners and their many employees.
On her part, a youth from Narok town who also owns a tree nursery Annlynne Sanaipei, noted that she normally sells over 500 tree seedlings daily during rainy seasons, which translates to over Sh.10,000 profit. ‘During rainy seasons, we make lots of profits, because the demand is higher than dry seasons,’ added Sanaipei.
However, Sanaipei regretted that they face challenges in the business including livestock feeding on their tree seedlings, theft of seedlings at night and harsh weather conditions among others.
Sanaipei urged the government through the Ministry of Agriculture to support them by purchasing these tree seedlings and planting them in schools’ compounds and other government premises.
She advised the youth to venture into tree nursery business to empower themselves economically.
One of her workers, Mary Waiguru had this to say: ‘Some of us are earning a living through working in these tree-nurseries. Like now we’re four working here in Sanaipei Tree nursery.’
She said understanding tree species in the nurseries helps the workers to assist buyers in terms of viability of specific species for specific environments, so that the buyers get maximum benefits from the seedlings. This understanding ensures more seedlings grow to maturity in the specific correct regions they are planted.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry through Kenya Forest Service (KFS) recently advertised the recruitment of 4,000 unskilled tree nursery attendants across the country.
Source: Kenya News Agency