When a love affair with plants pays more than the bills

Whoever said money does not grow on trees did not have Duncan Korir in mind, a man who earns his keep by preparing and selling seedlings. What started as a mere hobby for the man from Olbutyo, Bomet County, has blossomed into a source of livelihood. Korir can now take care of his family and comfortably pay school fees for his children.

He says that income from the seedlings is irregular but in no way low. The rainy seasons of March, April, November and December boost his business and he makes his greatest sales then.

On average, Korir earns Sh120,000 annually. The seedlings retail at between Sh10 and Sh30 depending on the tree type and number that a client orders.

Korir at his garden with client. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

His zeal for the trade is evident in the way he tends to his verdant, lush gardens which include exotic ones such as cypress, blue gums and cedar.

"Indigenous trees are steadily getting popular and thus I have to change my approach to meet the customers' demands. However, getting seedlings for these indigenous trees is a problem."

To circumvent such challenges, he says, he boils seeds of indigenous trees to weaken their pods to make germination easier.

Thanks to the rigours of nurturing such seedlings, Korir sells indigenous trees at a higher price.

To satisfy and enlarge his customer base, Korir does not merely sell the seedlings but supervises the planting and replaces those that fail to take root.

His main customers are new secondary schools as well as individuals who he reckons are increasingly embracing trees.

He takes great pride in his contribution to the fight against desertification and its accompanying debilitating effects.

He encouragees fellow youths to stop whining about joblessness or unavailability of land and instead opt for ventures like his.