How to make money from tree planting
Apr 21, 2010
RECENTLY, Ramadan Magoligo, a tree farmer, turned up at the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to seek guidance on how to salvage his ailing 23-hecatare pine plantation in Masindi district. He, like many Ugandans, is investing in tree planting to tap into the huge returns.
By Moses Watasa
RECENTLY, Ramadan Magoligo, a tree farmer, turned up at the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to seek guidance on how to salvage his ailing 23-hecatare pine plantation in Masindi district. He, like many Ugandans, is investing in tree planting to tap into the huge returns.
Apparently, his 10-year plantation had started stagnating after initially looking healthy. With plantation establishment costs of up to sh1.6m per hectare, Magoligo faces a big financial loss.
From an interview with him NFA established that he did not observe key plantation tenets. Investing in trees pays handsomely, but requires planting according to a sound plantation management plan.
To manage a healthy plantation, consider the following:
Farmers should be clear on the products they seek to extract from an intended plantation. It could be firewood, construction or transmission poles, timber or raw material for paper. Ideally, these end products should guide one on the tree species to be planted.
In Uganda, many tree farmers are planting pine for timber. The three main pine sub-species are pine-caribaea, orcapa, and patula. Other timber species include araucaria, terminalia, cypress, teak, musizi and mvule.
With Uganda still importing power transmission poles, shrewd farmers are investing in eucalyptus and harvest it at eight years. Eucalyptus is a multi-functional species also harvestable for timber at over 20 years.
It is important to procure quality tree seeds and seedlings from a credible source. The Government’s National Tree Seed Centre at Namanve in Kampala is the main source of quality seeds and seedlings.
Due to weather and soil variations, certain trees flourish in specific regions and particular sites. The species should, therefore, be matched with the conditions at the intended planting location. For instance, pine-patula flourishes in cold (humid) highlands, while drought-resistant pine-caribea and pine-orcapa excel in highlands and low-lands.
Spacing trees when planting is also vital because requirements for soil nutrients, moisture and light vary according to the species.
Appropriate tree spacing ensures that the trees attain sufficient moisture, nutrients and light to grow normally. Trees with longer ‘gestation’ period should be accorded more space since they demand more water and nutrients with time.
For this reason, eucalyptus can be spaced at 2.7x2.7 metres and 3.0x3.0 metres if planted for transmission and timber poles. Recommended spacing for other tree species is different.
Other maintenance interventions like weeding and pruning should be undertaken at recommended intervals (depending on species). These may be stopped once the tree canopy closes.
Diseased trees should be eliminated and fires kept at bay to guarantee healthy trees, a bumper harvest and quality products like poles, timber and wood for fuel.
Many tree farmers are not seeking technical support to establish and maintain plantations. While this costs a little more, it is the vital ingredient differentiating between healthy and failed plantations.
The writer is the public relations manager
National Forestry Authority
RECENTLY, Ramadan Magoligo, a tree farmer, turned up at the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to seek guidance on how to salvage his ailing 23-hecatare pine plantation in Masindi district. He, like many Ugandans, is investing in tree planting to tap into the huge returns.
Apparently, his 10-year plantation had started stagnating after initially looking healthy. With plantation establishment costs of up to sh1.6m per hectare, Magoligo faces a big financial loss.
From an interview with him NFA established that he did not observe key plantation tenets. Investing in trees pays handsomely, but requires planting according to a sound plantation management plan.
To manage a healthy plantation, consider the following:
Farmers should be clear on the products they seek to extract from an intended plantation. It could be firewood, construction or transmission poles, timber or raw material for paper. Ideally, these end products should guide one on the tree species to be planted.
In Uganda, many tree farmers are planting pine for timber. The three main pine sub-species are pine-caribaea, orcapa, and patula. Other timber species include araucaria, terminalia, cypress, teak, musizi and mvule.
With Uganda still importing power transmission poles, shrewd farmers are investing in eucalyptus and harvest it at eight years. Eucalyptus is a multi-functional species also harvestable for timber at over 20 years.
It is important to procure quality tree seeds and seedlings from a credible source. The Government’s National Tree Seed Centre at Namanve in Kampala is the main source of quality seeds and seedlings.
Due to weather and soil variations, certain trees flourish in specific regions and particular sites. The species should, therefore, be matched with the conditions at the intended planting location. For instance, pine-patula flourishes in cold (humid) highlands, while drought-resistant pine-caribea and pine-orcapa excel in highlands and low-lands.
Spacing trees when planting is also vital because requirements for soil nutrients, moisture and light vary according to the species.
Appropriate tree spacing ensures that the trees attain sufficient moisture, nutrients and light to grow normally. Trees with longer ‘gestation’ period should be accorded more space since they demand more water and nutrients with time.
For this reason, eucalyptus can be spaced at 2.7x2.7 metres and 3.0x3.0 metres if planted for transmission and timber poles. Recommended spacing for other tree species is different.
Other maintenance interventions like weeding and pruning should be undertaken at recommended intervals (depending on species). These may be stopped once the tree canopy closes.
Diseased trees should be eliminated and fires kept at bay to guarantee healthy trees, a bumper harvest and quality products like poles, timber and wood for fuel.
Many tree farmers are not seeking technical support to establish and maintain plantations. While this costs a little more, it is the vital ingredient differentiating between healthy and failed plantations.
The writer is the public relations manager
National Forestry Authority