By NICK OLUOCH

MIGORI, KENYA: Migori County Government has set aside more than 300, 000 seedlings to plant across the county in before the end of the current rainy season in efforts to tackle increasing deforestation.

Environment Executive Dr Polycarp Ating’a says the county has started planting trees on the hilltops, institutions and on public land that will help to manage the problem of unreliable rainfall.

He says deforestation has been blamed for drought in the county and urged the public to venture into tree planting.

“This is the way to go. The county government is going to ensure we have trees planted in all the sub counties in efforts to fight drought,” he said.

Dr Ating’a said his ministry is targeting planting 1,000,000 trees this year and hopes to engage schools and other learning institutions in the work.

He was speaking when he received 23, 000 seedlings from Alliance One Company officials in his office. He appealed to other well-wishers to donate more seedlings.