Farming trees is proving a profitable retirement activity for former Kenyan banker, Joseph Williams Opiyo. He expects to earn over KSh100 million at the end of the year when he sells his trees – planted in 2006 - for timber.

Kenya’s Star newspaper outlines how Opiyo initially grew sugar cane but when this didn’t prove successful decided to plant trees, inspired by a forester friend, and thanks to receiving quality seedlings of the fast growing Eucalyptus grandis and Grevillea robusta through a program of the World Agroforestry Centre.

He now has 50,000 trees on his 30 acre property and employs seven full-time and three casual farm workers to tend the trees.

Opiyo is hopeful that one day he can also benefit from the carbon market through the carbon which is stored in the trees he grows.

The article notes that the planting of Eucalypts can cause significant problems in Kenya when planted in wetland areas, and farmers need to seek approval and advice from the National Environmental Management Authority before venturing into such agroforestry projects. Farmers also need to ensure they access quality seedlings or seeds.

Read the full story: Money grows on eucalyptus trees for former banker