Tree seedling traders in Narok Central Sub County are reaping a big fortune as many residents flock to their premises to buy seedlings during this rainy season.
There have been showers of rainfall in several parts of the county, with the rain expected to continue until the end of the year, according to reports from the Meteorological Department.
Sarah Meitamei, a seedling trader, said many people have been flocking to her tree nursery seedling bed to purchase the seedlings, where most prefer fruit trees and ornamental trees for their homesteads.
“In a day, I sell between 50 to 100 fruit seedlings. Among the commonly sold fruit seedlings are avocados, oranges, and paw paws that do well in this region,” he added.
Other major customers are schools, churches, and government institutions that get seedlings from her nursery beside the Narok River in Narok town.
Meitamei added that planting trees should be a habit adopted by all people to help the government achieve a tree cover of 15 billion trees in 10 years.
Another seedling trader, Jane Wangari, said that they sell seedlings for between Sh30 and Sh100, depending on the type of seedling.
“The grafted avocado species like Hass and Fuerte sell at a higher price than the other varieties. Some of the decorative tree seedlings are also more expensive than other tree varieties,” she said.
Christopher Sankale, a resident of Narok town, said he had purchased ornamental trees and fruit trees to plant at his farm because of the numerous benefits of the plants.
“Trees have many benefits. They are not only decorative but also act as a shade for my family and visitors. The fruit trees supplement nutrients in my family’s meals, thus improving our diet,” he reiterated.
Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde announced that the county had planted over four million trees this year.
He called on the residents to plant more trees during this rainy season.
By Ann Salaton and Newton Babu
