By Kaleb Yiiki

Arua

Members of the community in West Nile have been asked to shun excuses to plant Trees and take advantage of the services of the existing private tree nursery growers in their Vicinity.

Radio Pacis reached out to some private tree Nursery Sites and found out that the tree seedlings raised and ready for planting include: Pines, Eucalyptus, Gravillea Robusta, Mahogany, Muvule, Teak, and Giant Lira among others.
Whereas the Fruit Trees include Avocados, Guava, Soursop commonly known as Brother Heart, Citrus, Grafted Mangoes, Budded Oranges and ornamental Trees among others. If the community Members in West Nile do not plant trees, West Nile is bound to face adverse Climatic Conditions.

Alioni Richard, the manager, Kana Tree Seed Nursery at Aliko Lubai Village in Ocoko Parish in Ajia Sub County Guides on handling and planting of tree Seedlings to ensure their survival. “I will advise people to plant Pine trees because up to certain stage, you can still continue growing your crops and even thereafter, when the Pine Trees reach maturity, you cut them and your soil fertility will increase because of the Mycorrhiza (a fungus which grows in association with the roots of a plant).”He recommends

Asite Frank, the managing director Embeva tree Nursery at Embeva Village, Eruba Parish Vurra Subcounty in Arua District says, within six years, some Tree species would be ready for Harvesting.


Asite Frank, the managing director Embeva tree Nursery

He adds that, depending on the purpose for which you are planting trees; he recommends that eucalyptus is a multipurpose tree in the sense that you can use it for house setting that means within four years of planting. When you Need Quick Money and you have planted Eucalyptus Trees that are four Years Old, you can go and cut it to allow it Grow more Stems (Ratooning). He further reveals that Eucalyptus poles for Construction works is ready after five Years

Meanwhile a six year old Eucalyptus tree is ready to be used for an electricity pole. “For Eucalyptus you don’t need to wait for so long to start harvesting although if you have the patience you can wait for ten years for its Timber products.” He Reveals.
Every Ugandan is expected to plant and to Nurture to maturity, at least 11 trees for the Country to recover its forest Cover.

Aciro Vicky, the Forest Supervisor in charge of Arua Nursery in Arua City warns that if People do not embrace Tree Planting, the Generations to come after them will be in a desert. She thus advised that it all starts by each one of us appreciating the Usefulness of a tree, a motivator to plant more trees. She castigated the west Nile people for not growing trees yet they need the Grown up trees to the extent of now cutting down Mango trees. “When you move deep into the villages you will be surprised that even finding firewood is a problem. Now if a family is suffering to get firewood where will they get the money to feed the children that they are producing?” She wondered.

COVER PHOTO: Alioni Richard, the manager, Kana Tree Seed Nursery watering some tree seedlings By Kaleb Yiiki