Mr George Odhiambo's tree nursery. Photo/Stellar Murumba
By Stellar Murumba
George Felix Odhiambo’s farm is busy. On
arriving at his Maraka Farm in Webuye, a vast tree nursery is not only
inviting, but paints the picture of good use of land.
A former administration officer at the troubled
PanPaper Mills in Webuye Town says he believes in diversification,
something akin to what stock market investors call a portfolio.
Mr Odhiambo says he has learnt to spread risks. “I
have learnt that for one to succeed he should diversify to cushion
himself against the risks.”
The nursery carries seedlings of various species of trees and flowers running into thousands.
Behind the nursery where the trees compete for space, is a fish pond and a poultry shed where he keeps chicken.
“My farm will one day be a one-stop centre for
farmers in search of knowledge and I will invite agriculture experts to
educate area farmers on new trends in regard to tree growing,” says Mr
Odhiambo, 55.
Growing Eucalyptus trees alone on a half an acre plot, says the farmer, would make him a millionaire in the next five years.
On a three-quarter acre plot, he has planted
exotic and indigenous trees like lush-Iola, Bischophia, a fast-growing
species good for shade and paper pulping, Mexican green ash, and croton,
which is recommended for landscaping.
Others are eucalyptus, cypress, bougainvillea, jorandas, rose flower, and bottle brush for flower trees.
The father of five and the sole bread winner took
the PanPaper troubles in his stride and literally rolled up his sleeves
to turn his passion for the environment into an income-generating
activity.
He is now in awe, looking at the landscape of his
ideas and farm that he admits is a success that could have been
unfathomable when he was in formal employment.
“I no longer regret losing my job because the
success I have achieved could not be possible if I was still in formal
employment,” he told the Business Daily.
Apart from his passion for environmental
conservation, he thanks God for the all-season River Maraka that
supplies him with adequate water across the year.
He is now both a model farmer and a role model to his five children, he says matter-of-factly.
He is now both a model farmer and a role model to his five children, he says matter-of-factly.
“I wondered what I could do to sustain my family’s
need after being rendered jobless and I resorted to agriculture as it
is not as demanding as growing food crops.”
Even when he was on payroll, “I was growing trees in the backyard of my staff house.”
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