Ministry to purchase tree seedlings from registered groups

By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi (KNA)

The Ministry for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry will only purchase tree seedlings from registered and licensed groups in efforts geared towards achieving the prerequisite 10 per cent forest cover.

Speaking in Busia County during the 2nd anniversary of Western Women congress at Busibwabo Secondary School, Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said the opportunity will be given to the women groups, youth groups, and community-based organizations and will help to achieve the 15 billion trees initiative.

“We are planting 1.5 billion trees every year but we don’t have to be moving from Nairobi to all parts of the country with seedlings. We have embarked on empowering communities and improving their livelihood through seedling production. We will now be buying the seedlings from the community that produces quality seedlings, “she said.

Barasa delivered 40,000 of seedlings; the majority for fruits which she said is going to be a source of income to many people. “We want our mothers and youth to plant these seedlings so that they produce fruits for our children. This will also be the source for money because we will be selling these fruits” she said.

She urged the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula to bring leaders from the western region together for the prosperity of the region. “We have seen what you have done to unite women from the western region, I want to request you to help in uniting all leaders from this region so that we can have one voice and be united. We cannot prosper in leadership if we lack unity.” she said.

The Speaker of National Assembly Moses Wetangula asked the leadership of the Western Women Congress to closely work with the national leaders to understand how they can benefit from the government initiatives.

“In a family, when you empower a woman, the whole family benefits. We need to have a conversation with the leadership so that we can help our women on how they can take the opportunities from the county and national government. We need our women to be well able so that they help in building our economy “he said.

Wetangula urged the members of the public to embrace each other and work together for greater achievement. “Everyone has a weakness but that should not limit us from working together.

Let's support our government so that we can deliver to our people. Last year we got 65 million sacks of maize, this year the estimate is 85 million because of the subsidized fertilizer.” he said.

He further said that the government is in the process of expanding Kisumu- Busia highway so that it can reduce the challenges the residents have been going through. 

“The president has instructed the CS for roads to send engineers who are coming to assess the expansion of Kisumu-Busia highway and the entry to Uganda. This saves our people from accidents and ease the movement of goods at our borders and in turn grow our economy as the country.

Kakamega County Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda outlined the critical role women play in the community, calling for them to be given opportunity in all sections. 

“Women are at the center of everything in this country. We are the strong pillar of a community and family. Women are an important pillar in our country which when we unite, we are going to achieve much. We need many women in leadership positions so that we can use our knowledge to lead.”

Muhanda challenged women to grab opportunities that are available to prosper in business and agriculture. “In national and county governments, 30 per cent of the procurement tenders are for women. This will not come if you don’t take action and take the available loans. Let’s engage ourselves in businesses so that we can also help to build our nation” she said.

Busia County Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo said the caucus is helping to nurture many young girls to become great leaders and take opportunities that are available.

“We have many opportunities but for women, it is a challenge for them to get. This forum is there to ensure that women across the country have been informed and nurtured on how to be great leaders. We need to invest much in our women so that the community can feel the impact of the empowerment” she said.