By MN Reporter
Youthful farmers in Nyakwere village Migori County have opted to diversify from sugarcane farming to engage in agro-forestry by planting eucalyptus.
On Sunday, the group led by Wycliffe Omondi planted 3,000 seedlings bought at Sh10 each after realising that sugarcane farming in the region is not profitable.
Omondi said in two to three years when sugarcane mature, those who plant eucalyptus benefit more.
“Sugarcane require more input for infrastructure which includes cultivation, weeding, buying seed cane and fertilizer. All these are not there in eucalyptus farming,” he said.
Omondi said they took the initiative after seeing their parents struggle to put them through education caused by delayed harvesting of cane and more delays experienced in payment.
He said out out the 3,000 seedlings, they will started to received at least Sh300 in first harvest of poles used in building houses to Sh5,000 for timber which translates to a profit of between Sh800,000-1.5m.
“This is big compared to Sh50,000 you can expect from an acre of sugarcane,” he said.
“The trees are better compared to sugarcane that takes a lot of labour and finances he added.
The trees are also known to be hardy against disease and weather elements compared to sugarcane.
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