Kisumu: The government has initiated a program aimed at training community-based organizations involved in environmental conservation on best practices for raising quality commercial seedlings. This initiative seeks to empower these organizations, along with self-help groups, to cultivate healthy seedlings and engage in horticultural farming as a means to increase tree cover and improve livelihoods.
According to Kenya News Agency, the area Forester officer, Herbert Imbuka, emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing farmers’ income and improving their living standards. Imbuka underscored this commitment while training the Eco-green conservator community-based organization on effective techniques for raising seedlings from a variety of sources, including indigenous and exotic trees, bamboo, and fruit trees. This training is part of a broader government strategy to plant 10 billion trees by 2032.
The Eco-green conservator CBO is actively preparing to plant bamboo along the banks of the Awach River in Rachuonyo North Sub County, currently focusing on raising bamboo seedlings. Imbuka pointed out that global climate change, exacerbated by deforestation and poor farming methods, adversely affects rivers and lakes. He highlighted that these poor practices lead to soil erosion, which contributes to siltation, resulting in shallower lakes and a decline in fish populations that many locals depend on for sustenance.
Imbuka stressed the importance of community-driven projects aimed at protecting and sustaining the lake, which is a vital resource for local livelihoods. During the training, which included farm visits to observe various CBO projects, officials demonstrated ways for farmers to enhance their activities in horticulture, beekeeping, and tree cultivation to maximize benefits.
The forester emphasized that the CBO’s initiatives serve as a form of employment, encouraging members to become environmental advocates after their training. He urged them to showcase their work to attract visitors, facilitate learning, and create market opportunities for their products.
The Eco-green conservator members received training on the advantages of fruit trees, commercial tree farming, economic empowerment, beekeeping, tree nurseries, and eco-friendly small business ventures. Imbuka also advised farmers planting Eucalyptus trees for commercial purposes to adhere to legal requirements, such as maintaining a 6-meter distance from common boundaries and avoiding planting on riparian lands.
Additionally, the training included information on carbon credits and how farmers can benefit from them. Imbuka explained that through carbon projects, individuals are compensated for preserving forests, thus conserving ecosystems and generating income through the sale of carbon credits.
