Nairobi: The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Forestry, Gitonga Mugambi, has called on young Kenyans to invest in tree nurseries and collaborate with the government to produce seedlings, aiming to meet the national target of planting 15 billion trees by 2030.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mugambi emphasized the potential profitability of the tree nursery business for young entrepreneurs while contributing to environmental conservation. He was speaking in Eldoret during the distribution of the second tranche of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Business Capital programme for the counties of Uasin Gishu, Nandi, and Elgeyo-Marakwet. More than 7,000 youth received business support grants amounting to over Sh172 million to expand their enterprises and improve their livelihoods.
Mugambi highlighted the growing demand for tree seedlings, particularly high-value fruit trees like avocado and coffee, which presents a ready market for young entrepreneurs both locally and internationally. He noted that the government’s aggressive afforestation programme has led to a sustained demand for quality seedlings, making tree nursery enterprises a viable income source for youth.
Despite the opportunities, Mugambi expressed concern that none of the NYOTA beneficiaries who spoke during the event showed interest in tree nursery businesses. He urged them to diversify their investments by establishing tree nurseries and supplying seedlings for the nation’s ongoing tree planting campaign.
Mugambi stated, “The demand for quality seedlings continues to rise as the country works towards achieving the Presidential directive of planting 15 billion trees by 2030. This is an opportunity for young people to create sustainable businesses while supporting environmental conservation.”
He pointed out that fruit tree seedlings, including avocado and coffee, are particularly lucrative due to their increasing demand from farmers seeking to enhance agricultural productivity and access export markets.
The Forestry PS urged stakeholders implementing the NYOTA programme to encourage more youth to engage in tree-growing enterprises. He noted that this initiative would not only generate income but also contribute to increasing Kenya’s forest cover and mitigating climate change effects.
The government aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2030 as part of its strategy to restore degraded landscapes, enhance forest cover, and strengthen the country’s resilience to climate change.
