By E, KNA
The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Festus Ng’eno, has urged the school going children, to nurture the fruit trees in their learning institutions, to promote environmental conservation and food security.
Speaking during Mazingira Day at Siwot Primary School in Kuresoi South, the PS observed that such effort will go a long way in instilling a culture of environmental responsibility, to the younger ones, while ensuring that they literally enjoy the fruits of their labour.
He noted that in order for trees to grow well, there is need to regularly water them, ensuring that they are kept away from animals that hinder their growth and therefore called upon all stakeholders not to allow to waste the effort that will help reach the growing of the 15 billion trees by 2030, as per the Presidential directive.
In the target, according to Ng’eno, 30 percent of the trees ought to be fruit trees and therefore insisted on the need for all stakeholders, to help achieve this target.
His sentiments were echoed by the area Legislator, Joseph Tonui, who said that the growth of the fruit trees, should be done religiously, so that the target is achieved meticulously.
Tonui further said that by giving the school going children an opportunity to grow and nurture the trees, they will grow-up knowing the importanceof growing trees and environmental conservation thus passing the knowledge to other generations.
During the exercise, participants managed to plant over 3,000 fruit seedlings at the school.