Mbale women plant trees for money
Mar 01, 2004
WHENEVER it rains, they suffer yet it is their obligation to ensure that their children are happy and healthy. Women of Bugobero sub-county in Mbale district have taken to tree planting as a solution to the increasing shortage of firewood in their area, and to earn a living.
By Fred Nangoli
WHENEVER it rains, they suffer yet it is their obligation to ensure that their children are happy and healthy. Women of Bugobero sub-county in Mbale district have taken to tree planting as a solution to the increasing shortage of firewood in their area, and to earn a living.
Under Namunyiri Women’s Group, the Bagisu women have been growing trees for the last one year. The group now grows three species of tree seedlings, including eucalyptus, musizi and coroferia. According to George Napokoli, the area environmentalist, eucalyptus seedlings take three months to be ready for transplant, while musizi and coroferia take four and five months respectively. He says eucalyptus trees are good for firewood and poles, musizi is good for timber and corofenia for agro-forestry.
Margaret Masayi, the group leader, says when the seedlings are mature, they are sold and the surplus are planted by the group members.
In just one year, the group of 20 women has sold over 10,000 seedlings and planted over 5000 for their own future use.
“Last year alone we obtained sh0.2m from the sale of tree seedlings and used the money to buy more seeds, potting materials and pesticides,†she reveals.
“It is now a year since we took up the project. Tree planting has become part of our daily responsibility,†she adds.
Because of their commitment in tree planting, the group has won itself a district tender to supply 20,000 tree seedlings to the district environment office.
The group has also received a wheelbarrow and watering can from the district to maintain and expand on the project.
At the moment, these women do not own a separate piece of land for growing tree seedlings. Instead they grow the seedlings in their banana plantations and water them on a daily basis.
When the trees are ready for transplant, some are sold off while the surplus is planted by members for future use.
Their next move is to use the money they will get from the supply of tree seedlings to the district to expand on their project and also venture into other income generating projects.
But whether they are to earn any profits out of the project, it is a matter of time and patience. These trees take up to five to ten years to be ready for use as firewood, timber or even poles.
Ends.
WHENEVER it rains, they suffer yet it is their obligation to ensure that their children are happy and healthy. Women of Bugobero sub-county in Mbale district have taken to tree planting as a solution to the increasing shortage of firewood in their area, and to earn a living.
Under Namunyiri Women’s Group, the Bagisu women have been growing trees for the last one year. The group now grows three species of tree seedlings, including eucalyptus, musizi and coroferia. According to George Napokoli, the area environmentalist, eucalyptus seedlings take three months to be ready for transplant, while musizi and coroferia take four and five months respectively. He says eucalyptus trees are good for firewood and poles, musizi is good for timber and corofenia for agro-forestry.
Margaret Masayi, the group leader, says when the seedlings are mature, they are sold and the surplus are planted by the group members.
In just one year, the group of 20 women has sold over 10,000 seedlings and planted over 5000 for their own future use.
“Last year alone we obtained sh0.2m from the sale of tree seedlings and used the money to buy more seeds, potting materials and pesticides,†she reveals.
“It is now a year since we took up the project. Tree planting has become part of our daily responsibility,†she adds.
Because of their commitment in tree planting, the group has won itself a district tender to supply 20,000 tree seedlings to the district environment office.
The group has also received a wheelbarrow and watering can from the district to maintain and expand on the project.
At the moment, these women do not own a separate piece of land for growing tree seedlings. Instead they grow the seedlings in their banana plantations and water them on a daily basis.
When the trees are ready for transplant, some are sold off while the surplus is planted by members for future use.
Their next move is to use the money they will get from the supply of tree seedlings to the district to expand on their project and also venture into other income generating projects.
But whether they are to earn any profits out of the project, it is a matter of time and patience. These trees take up to five to ten years to be ready for use as firewood, timber or even poles.
Ends.