We want tree planting to speak to the job creation needs of this country- CS Tuya
Speaking during an Interview at citizens TV, Forests cabinet secretary, Soipan tuya, stated that the ministry is very optimistic about the tree planting exercise.
She highlighted that every Kenyan is expected to take up the initiative and support the government in its 1.5 billion trees tree cover annually.
She stated,”We want the tree planting to speak to the food security need of the country. We want tree planting to speak to the job creation needs of this country. If we plan trees and grow them, we will address in the long run the cyclic droughts and floods, that should be the business of everybody,”
“One of the intentions for the holiday is to encourage Kenyans to have a value system around our forests and our environment, to really know the value of planting trees. I tell Kenyans, you better plant one tree and actually see it to maturity than pride yourself of planting 20 and you have no plan on how to make sure they thrive,” she added.
The cabinet secretary further revealed that the government will be launching a new technology that helps plant trees in large areas.
She stated,” We will be showcasing the aerial seeding technology tomorrow which KEFRI has started applying in some parts of the country and we hope to enhance that to scale. Aerial seeding will help us plant trees across large tracks of land more cheaply in the long run,”
“We have a mobile phone application called ‘The Jaza Miti App’. Between yesterday and the last time I checked, we have had a registration of 2 million trees. I would encourage that do whatever else you have planned to do for the day after you have heeded to this call of national duty,” she added.
President Ruto is expected to lead the country in tree planting. Counties have received seedlings ahead of the drive, A total of 11 million seedlings have been distributed countrywide.
CS Tuya stated,”The main reason why we took the decision to do a special tree growing day is for each Kenyan to own this initiative. It is not a government initiative, it has to be the responsibility of each and every one of us. I am very optimistic that Kenyans are going to heed to the call.”
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