NAIROBI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's drive to plant trees to reverse the effects of climate change has become a boon for seedlings farmers.
The initiative launched in May across the East African nation by President Uhuru Kenyatta made Kenyans appreciate the value of trees.
"Environment is the foundation of development, and it can no longer continue being taken for granted. I challenge all of us to step up and ensure that by 2022, the nation achieves and even surpasses the 10 per cent forest cover. The current 7 per cent is still too low for a country like Kenya which has witnessed great growth in economy and even population," said President Uhuru Kenyatta, as he declared May 12 National Tree Planting Day.
A majority of Kenyans heeded to his call to plant and conserve trees, thus, buying and planting seedlings.
Consequently, tree seedlings farmers across the East African have turned out to be the biggest beneficiaries of the drive.
From the capital Nairobi to the countryside, the seedlings business has now become one of the lucrative agribusinesses currently in Kenya.
John Mungai runs a seedlings business in the capital Nairobi, and as many other traders, he operates alongside a major highway.
His business is located on Mombasa road, with various others stationed on Thika Road, Ngong Road and Waiyaka, as the traders target motorists.
Mungai sells cypress, cedar, eucalyptus, bottlebrush and mahogany, among other tree seedlings.
"I sell each seedlings from 0.5 U.S. dollars to 3 dollars depending on the size and type. Those of hardwood trees like mahogany are most expensive," he said on Thursday.
Business has been good since the government launched the nearly two billion dollars' trees initiative.
"That campaign pushed up demand for tree seedlings three-fold and it came at the right time during the March to May rainy season," he said.
Mungai, as many other tree seedlings propagators, struggled to meet demand as Kenyatta urged Kenyans to plant trees at public forums.
"The rainy season usually brings us business but this time round, it poured business in torrents. I am still struggling to restock after I sold most of my seedlings," he said.
Most of those who were buying his seedlings were going to plant them on farms on the outskirts of Nairobi, including in places like Athi River, Syokimau, Kitengela and Mlolongo where people own homes.
Some people travelling upcountry mainly in Kitui, Machakos and Makueni counties too bought his trees to plant as the semi-arid regions received more than normal rainfall.
Kakamega-based tree seedlings grower Hassan Wabwile said business has been good, with the county government buying seedlings for people to plant in support of the national government initiative.
Prices are however lower in the town in western Kenya than in the city. A seedling goes for between 0.20 dollars and 1 dollar.
Kenya's ambitious tree planting initiative is part of bold steps to restore depleted forest cover by the government.
The government has also banned logging and charcoal trade, with the ban that is currently in place having started in February.
The initiatives follow perennial droughts and water crises, partly blamed on forest destruction which had aggravated climate change effects, according to environmentalists.
Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer in Nairobi, noted the growth of seedlings business shows how government policy can boost trade and small-scale farmers.
"If the government makes it mandatory that every student or citizen plants a tree, the seedlings sector would become huge. It had been struggling for years because Kenyans found no reason to plant trees," he said.
Wandera said the 1.8 billion trees initiative would boost the sector if the government pushes the agenda every year.
