Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi distributes trees for planting in Meru during a tree planting event accompanied by other national and county leaders | PHOTO-Courtesy
By Eastern Correspondent
Irrigation Permanent Secretary Gitonga Mugambi has exuded confidence that the nation can achieve food security and feed its residents without further interventions of relief food.
Mugambi said the President is committed to planting trees because of the many benefits that come with a green environment adding that the exercise was not political as insinuated in some quarters.
Mugambi, who accompanied Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi during a Tree planting exercise in Meru as part of the nationwide Tree Growing and Land Restoration Campaign, said that the establishment of Dams, water pans, and water connectivity to farms and homesteads will eventually empower Mwananchi to be self-reliant.
“Trees help to clean the atmosphere for us to breathe in clean air. Trees help in the conservation of our soils and water resources and prevent soil erosion. Trees will enable tapping of rains for adequate irrigation,” he said.
Mugambi added that his duty is to ensure Irrigation is done to alleviate drought.
“We can do Irrigation but we don’t have enough water. The infrastructure we have put up needs conservation through trees for enough rainfall. We urge farmers and everyone to plant fruit trees for the benefit of your farm and family,” he said.
His colleague PS King’ori Kiburi said climate change has really affected the weather pattern and that’s the reason for the President to rally residents in planting more trees.
“Meru has at least 30 percent but being Arable we need to plant more trees to cover other regions that are drier,” he said.
