KVDA launches 3.5 million seedlings campaign to fight climate change

EKUWAM SYLVESTER-KNA 

The Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) has launched an environmental rehabilitation programme along the degraded hanging valleys of Kerio Valley region.

Speaking during an inspecting of Kimwarer Tree Nursery, KVDA Ag. Managing Director Moses Kipchumba, who was accompanied by board Chairperson Mark Chesergon, said the Authority targets to raise over 3.5 million assorted fruit and tree seedlings this financial year in its 16 nurseries across the seven counties to distribute to farmers along in Kerio Valley for planting especially during this long rain season.

He added that the tree growing campaign is also in support of the Presidential Directive to grow 15 billion trees by 2032. KVDA has planted over one million assorted fruit and tree seedlings against a target of 1.5 million seedlings for this financial year.

He said KVDA is working together with other partners like the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme (KICP) to accelerate interventions to mitigate the impacts of degraded lands by distributing assorted fruit and tree seedlings, while sensitizing the communities on environmental conservation.

Kipchumba said KVDA is currently distributing over 400,000 fruit tree seedlings and 500,000 seedlings of other tree varieties across the region targeting farmers, schools- through school greening program, and community groups. 

The assorted seedlings distributed included coffee, mangoes and avocado.

“We have launched the assorted seedlings distribution and tree growing campaign targeting 1.5 million assorted fruit trees, 1.7 million assorted tree seedlings, 300,000 certified coffee seedlings, 100,000 tea seedlings,” he said.

He said farmers in the highland areas will receive cash crop seedlings of coffee, tea and avocado, while those at the lower part of the valley will grow mangoes due to favorable temperate climate.

“By growing assorted fruit and tree seedlings, we are committed in restoring degraded landscapes especially along the fragile Kerio escarpments which is susceptible to recurrent landslides, improving food security and nutrition and improving community income streams through sale of fruits,” added Kipchumba.

Farmers in the region praised the authority’s support to local communities by making available certified fruit and tree seedlings that they could not easily access from the region due to economic challenges and lack of knowledge.