Money Does Grow On Trees!- A Campaign To Encourage Commercial Tree Growing By TBPT

 

The adage that "Money doesn't grow on trees" has been used by English language speakers for years to drive the message of caution in matters financial. When someone tells you that money doesn't grow on trees it means that you should be careful how you spend your money because there is only a limited supply.

While the idiom may be true, we at Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) wish to use the same idiom to inform Kenyans of the opportunities that are available to them to make money from growing trees and hence our slogan "Money Does Grow On Trees!".

We are running the campaign as a means of educating Kenyans on:

1. How one can make money from planting various commercial trees
2. What trees are suitable for investment purposes
3. Where to plant the trees
4. When to plant the trees
5. How to plant the trees
6. For those who wish to be less hands on, we also plant and maintain for you on a contractual basis
7. Our organisation, products and services we offer

We will be vocal prior and during the coming tree planting seasons of March-April and October-November to ensure that you make informed decisions.

The campaign targets Kenyans who may have land that is currently not put in any good economic use, those belonging to investment clubs (Chamas) that own land, young people who maybe unemployed at the moment but have access to family or community land in suitable ecological zones.

Tree Biotechnology Programme Trust (TBPT) has more than 12 years experience in clonal forestry having successfully established a clonal centre in Karura (Nairobi) and regional offices in Gede (Malindi), Lamu and Eldoret. We have sold over 19 million improved seedlings and clones have been produced and distributed to over 12,000 farmers across the country and regionally, an investment worth more than 2.5 Million dollars. This translates to over 11,000 hectares land under tree cover.

While most of our customers from Kenya and the region have been institutions and large scale farmers, we have also served many SME tree growers planting anything from 1 acre to 20 acres.

After more than a decade in the sector, we are not satisfied with the aspirations of just enhancing wealth creation through access to proven forest technologies, but wish as many Kenyans as are willing also get into tree planting.

Through this blog and other channels like newspapers, TV, facebook, etc we will try to inform and educate you on why tree planting is a sound investment decision by you, your chama, your company, your community project or family.  

Although we are the pioneers in  eucalyptus cloning  in our region, we have since diversified to numerous other trees and herbs all aimed at making money for our customers. Some of the tree seedlings we sell in our centres include:-

• Eucalyptus pure species
• Eucalyptus clones (Various)
• Fruit trees e.g. grafted avacado
• Melia volkensii
• Ash oak
• Jacaranda
• Aloe Vera
• Herbs e.g. marjoram, rosemary 
• Thuja
• Desert Rose
• Bamboo
• Ornamental trees/shrubs  

Here are two posters that explain in details how you can see money "growing" on your trees:- 

Images courtesy of http://www.karlabrandau.com/ and www.luluandlattes.comb