KENYA- The environment of Nairobi is becoming more beautiful due
to environmentalist such as the Kenya horticultural society who recruit members
to continue keeping the environment beautiful.
The Kenya horticultural society was established almost 100 years
ago, in 1923 by a group of people with a shared interest in plants, flowers,
trees, and gardens. The aim of the society is to encourage anyone with an
interest in gardening and plants with opportunities to explore and learn more
about horticulture in Kenya,
In Nairobi matters regarding the environment are taken seriously,
almost every corner you will come across plants and trees that have been
displayed for sale to be replanted. Recently the government banned chopping of
wood to create charcoal which leads to deforestation.
Desmond Maganga is the assistant administrator of the Kenya
Horticultural society. He has studied Horticulture with I.T at Maseno
University in Kisumu County.
He is happy to be part of the Kenya Horticultural society. His
vision is to promote horticulture through society by recruiting new members in
achieving the society's goals.
"I have been working with the society for seven months now,
and it has been a great learning experience for me. I started out horticulture
at Maseno University, I got an
opportunity to work with the society and it has been doing well so far. I am
really happy to be working with the society", he adds.
He has learned to appreciate nature, because the society brings
people together, who have an interest in gardening. It also provides a platform
for people to come together and share their ideas on different ways of doing
gardening in your own space, it might be your apartment or your small kitchen
garden.
The society has educated people on the possibilities that are in
gardening in Nairobi is an urban area. You don't have to be in a rural area
with a big farm, you can do something small where you are and you will earn
some money with the small space that you have.
Horticulture is a four-year course, he has seven years as a
professional. "I wouldn't say I am an expert in the field, I am still
learning a lot. But I can see there is a lot of potential for growth in the
field and I am sure I will also grow".He says.
When he was done with high school, he wanted to do biochemistry,
however, when the career selections were being done, he got selected for
horticulture by the university. Starting out he was a bit skeptical, but he had
a feeling that he would be good at. So he decided to dive in.
He does not have any regrets because choosing horticulture as
a career because it is in line with his
love for nature, he loves plants and the outdoors. He has also had a good
experience, He has stuck with it because he is constantly meeting new people who
have to work in the society.
The society has almost 1000 members from all over Kenya. They
particularly welcome amateur or professional, novice or expert, young or old
especially employed gardeners to join and improve their skills.
Horticulture is an intensive subset of agriculture that deals with
flowers, landscape plants, vegetables, and fruits. Today, horticulture is
focused on finding new and environmentally-responsible ways of managing plants
and pests to help increase crop and ornamental plant viability. Sam Houston
State University sums it up as a science, "dealing with production and
management of plants for food, comfort, feed, recreation, and beauty."
Plants are also very important in environmental protection. They
are used to re-vegetate and restore land disturbed by human or natural
activities, they control erosion, and they help to clean the air and water.
Plants also have an important role in the beautification of urban and rural
landscapes and recreation areas.
Horticulture is socially important because it improves how we use
plants, for food and other human purposes, as well as repairing the environment
and personal aesthetics.
Comments
Post a Comment