While many people are scared of retirement, one
man in Kwale, has no such worries.
man in Kwale, has no such worries.
Joseph Kibugi, 53, has secured his future by
planting 60,000 trees on a 51-acre piece of land.
planting 60,000 trees on a 51-acre piece of land.
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| Kibugi in his farm |
farming with fish and livestock farming to
generate an additional income. An extension
officer at the Forestry Department in Mombasa,
Kibugi started growing trees as a hobby when he
was 12 years old.
His farm at Mivumoni, Kwale, has 1,000 teak
trees, 27,000 casuarinas, 7,000 eucalyptus, 1,000
Christmas trees, 100 arborea and 3,000 graveria
for timber at various stages of growth.
trees, 27,000 casuarinas, 7,000 eucalyptus, 1,000
Christmas trees, 100 arborea and 3,000 graveria
for timber at various stages of growth.
Last week he took us around his forest as
baboons jumped from tree to tree. It is from here
that he narrated his love for trees that started at
his father’s farm in Naivasha.
baboons jumped from tree to tree. It is from here
that he narrated his love for trees that started at
his father’s farm in Naivasha.
The South Coast Forest Owners Association
chairman also has a half an acre under 50
species of ornamental trees that will be sold to
commercial or private landscapers in Ukunda.
chairman also has a half an acre under 50
species of ornamental trees that will be sold to
commercial or private landscapers in Ukunda.
Here he has a well, seedlings and a fish pond,
which cost him Sh350,000.
His serene house is surrounded by shades that
protect about 35,000 seedlings from the sun.
protect about 35,000 seedlings from the sun.
A trained forester at Londiani Forest College, Mr
Kibugi plants trees during his off days.
Kibugi plants trees during his off days.
He estimates that a farmer can make Sh1.2 million a
year from a well irrigated acre of ornamental
trees.
year from a well irrigated acre of ornamental
trees.
The investment in his farm is about Sh2 million
and credits his success to advice from the World
Wide Fund for Nature, loans from the
Agricultural Finance Corporation and the support
of the local community.
and credits his success to advice from the World
Wide Fund for Nature, loans from the
Agricultural Finance Corporation and the support
of the local community.
“AFC gave me the start-up capital of Sh300,000 to
establish the forest project in 2008 and in 2011, I
got a second one of Sh500,000 to stock livestock
whereas WWF offered expert advice,” he says.
establish the forest project in 2008 and in 2011, I
got a second one of Sh500,000 to stock livestock
whereas WWF offered expert advice,” he says.
Among the tree species grown at his residential
area are the unique Peach Ixora, which sells at
Sh250 per plant, the Bottle Palm that costs
Sh7,500 apiece, Travellers Palm at Sh2,500,
Ashok and Holly Plant at Sh250.
area are the unique Peach Ixora, which sells at
Sh250 per plant, the Bottle Palm that costs
Sh7,500 apiece, Travellers Palm at Sh2,500,
Ashok and Holly Plant at Sh250.
Other popular tree species at his farm are Fish Tail Palm and the Dwarf Coconut that matures in three years and is going at Sh1,500 per plant.
The Romantic
Queen of the Night tree sells at sh.250. His main
customers are tree farmers, the beach community
and tourist resorts.
Queen of the Night tree sells at sh.250. His main
customers are tree farmers, the beach community
and tourist resorts.
“The success story is that people who initially
bought poles from me as customers realised the
gains from the project and now they have been
converted to tree owners,” he says.
bought poles from me as customers realised the
gains from the project and now they have been
converted to tree owners,” he says.
He started collecting and keeping the trees when
he worked in Msambweni.
he worked in Msambweni.
“I made sure that I collected the varieties from
farmers over the years while training them to
grow trees. It’s fortunate that at least many
farmers have embraced the business at small-
scale,” he says.
farmers over the years while training them to
grow trees. It’s fortunate that at least many
farmers have embraced the business at small-
scale,” he says.
REPEAT CUSTOMERS
Mr Kibugi says some species are foreign but
survive well under tropical conditions. Some
come from his repeat customers and people who
do similar business from Thailand, Mauritius and
Tanzania.
Mr Kibugi says some species are foreign but
survive well under tropical conditions. Some
come from his repeat customers and people who
do similar business from Thailand, Mauritius and
Tanzania.
“Through the network, we exchange plants with
seeds and it has made my trees species
population to increase with time,” he says.
seeds and it has made my trees species
population to increase with time,” he says.
On monthly sales, Mr Kibugi says without
aggressive marketing, he earns between
Sh100,000 and Sh120,000 a month from his
investment depending on his repeat customers.
aggressive marketing, he earns between
Sh100,000 and Sh120,000 a month from his
investment depending on his repeat customers.
The association he heads has 50 members who do
a combined acreage of 5,000 and have come
together to battle brokers.
a combined acreage of 5,000 and have come
together to battle brokers.
“We want to have control over the brokers and
cut out the chain of middle men in the near
future for the farmers to benefit more.” Mr
Kibugi warns farmers against crusaders that
mislead them with talk of high returns.
cut out the chain of middle men in the near
future for the farmers to benefit more.” Mr
Kibugi warns farmers against crusaders that
mislead them with talk of high returns.
“In reality, an acre of casuarinas can hold 1,000
trees, and the farmer benefits from about 60 per
cent of the mature trees at a cost of Sh400 each.
trees, and the farmer benefits from about 60 per
cent of the mature trees at a cost of Sh400 each.
What is communicated to farmers is that the
market price is Sh1,000 which is an
exaggeration,” he says.
market price is Sh1,000 which is an
exaggeration,” he says.
On the future of tree growing, he says there is a
big potential as demand for charcoal will keep on
rising.
big potential as demand for charcoal will keep on
rising.
“In urban areas, charcoal is required in large
quantities. We don’t have trees for timber, so we
are forced to import from the neighbouring
countries,” he says.
quantities. We don’t have trees for timber, so we
are forced to import from the neighbouring
countries,” he says.
Mr Kibugi, who also harvests honey from his
trees, says the coastal climate is conducive to
the growing of timber trees which mature within
12 years.
trees, says the coastal climate is conducive to
the growing of timber trees which mature within
12 years.
At his rural home in Kinangop in Nyandarua
County, Mr Kibugi has a six-acre farm where he
has planted trees on four acres because of good
market for forest products especially poles and
timber. The other two acres are reserved for his
house and agriculture.
County, Mr Kibugi has a six-acre farm where he
has planted trees on four acres because of good
market for forest products especially poles and
timber. The other two acres are reserved for his
house and agriculture.
When he retires, Mr Kibugi plans to set up a
landscaping company and a farm and forestry
products firm.
landscaping company and a farm and forestry
products firm.
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