By E, KNA
The County government of Nakuru has rolled out an ambitious campaign to promote the growing of fruit-bearing trees where it plans to grow over three million fruit tree seedlings.
The campaign is a major shift from the growing of the indigenous and exotic trees and is in support of the government’s agenda of achieving growth of at least 15 billion trees by 2032 under the National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign.
According to County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water, Environment, Climate Change, Energy, and Natural Resources, Dr Nelson Maara, this shift is significantly solving two major problems, including environmental conservation to mitigate the effects of climate change and offering improved nutritional benefits for the school and community populations while contributing to a more vibrant ecosystem.
The CECM indicated that the initiative aims to use spaces in public schools, parks, streets, villages and urban areas to grow the fruit tree seedlings which he said will help in reducing greenhouse emissions, halting and reversing deforestation, and restoring degraded landscapes.
Fruit trees, Dr. Maara explained contribute to biodiversity by providing habitats and resources for a variety of species, from pollinators to birds and small mammals. This, he added enhances the resilience of farming systems to the impacts of climate change.
“Farmers who diversify their crops with fruit trees gain multiple streams of income, improve their food security, and reduce their vulnerability to changing weather patterns,” Dr Maara elaborated.
As part of support to a larger plan by the national government to increase tree forest cover to 30 percent Dr Maara oversaw distribution of 3,870 fruit tree seedlings including mangoes, hybrid papayas and passion fruits to Tuiymet Eco-farmers’ youth group in Rongai Sub-County.
Dr Maara at the same time disclosed that the county government was encouraging agroforestry that includes growing of avocados, citrus, oranges, mangoes, apples, hybrid papayas and passion fruits as a vital step towards a greener, more food-secure and an economically empowered society.
He said the fruit tree planting initiative will offer pupils a hands-on learning experience as recommended in the Competency Based Curriculum matters plant biology, sustainable agriculture and the importance of food security as they participate actively in the planting and nurturing the trees and ultimately the harvesting of the fruits.
The CECM added that by planting fruit trees and integrating climate-smart practices into their farming, the communities will contribute to increasing tree cover and combating the effects of climate change. This milestone, he said underscores the importance of empowering rural youth to embrace agribusiness as a sustainable livelihood.
The fruit tree planting initiative also aligns with broader county and national goals of food security, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment of communities, he added.
While saying that the fruit tree planting program was also targeting schools with learners and teachers expected to nurture the seedlings, the CECM noted that using schools as a demonstration would encourage the farmers around the learning institutions to venture into fruit tree farming, which in turn will improve the economy of the county through an empowered society.
He said fruit trees planted in a school not only helps in environmental preservation but also provides nutritional benefits that can enhance the health of students.
Dr Maara said research by the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) revealed that fruit trees not only help farmers increase their income and improve food nutrition and security but also play a significant role in mitigating climate change and boosting biodiversity.
While noting that fruit trees are vital to carbon sequestration, helping to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the soil and trees, the CECM stated that they help to attain water conservation and improve forest cover.
“We want to use the fruit crop to fight climate change and tackle soil erosion in our farms,” said Dr. Maara.
He also said the fruit tree planting initiative seeks to mitigate drought effects and global warming by increasing vegetation cover.
Dr Maara added that the County Government emphasizes educating farmers and community members on planting the right trees in appropriate areas, sustainable harvesting methods, and the importance of maintaining trees for environmental and economic benefits.
He underscored the importance of collective efforts in tree planting and environmental conservation to ensure a sustainable future for the region and country at large.
Dr Maara highlighted how trees could serve as a source of income and assist families in paying school fees, thereby supporting both economic and educational goals.
