Kisii farmers reluctant to uproot eucalyptus trees due to impressive profits
A eucalyptus plantation. Farmers in Kisii County have been reluctant to uproot the trees growing near river banks. They argue that they earm more money from the trees than from maize. FILE PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Mr Fred Kebaya says he resorted to planting the trees after realising he could make more money from them.
WRMA sub regional manager said they will not shy away from enforcing their mandate of protecting water sources in the country.
He said they had not banned the farmers from planting the trees but were simply discouraging them from doing so next to water sources.
He says even though the trees were good commercially, farmers should be sensitised not to plant them near water sources.
Farmers living along river banks in Kisii County are faced with a major dilemma over a government directive to uproot eucalyptus trees.
They are wondering whether to heed a government directive on the trees that have been blamed for high water consumption in wetlands or keep them and make money.
