kaigangio
Thanks for your advise,but I can assure you I did thorough homework when I came to learn about the new venture that had recently at that time (2003) being introduced in the country for smallholder farmers who could alternatively invest in tree planting as subsitute of already pathetic situation of existing cash crops products(Coffee & Tea) in Central Province.

I can assure you those of us who took the risk did thorough research of the existing markets, locally and internationally . We knew the value of the Kenya market of treated transmission wood poles at that time was around 4 billion shilling annually (estimated to be around Ksh 7 billion now). And in most cases the KPLC had to import the product from Europe, Far East, South Africa and our neighbouring countries - Uganda, Tanzania and DRC.

This new hybrid seedlings (clones Eucalyptus seedling that would reach its maturity within a period of 5-7 years for the transmission poles instead of the conventional trees that takes 15-20 years to mature) was being imported from South Africa, through collaboration of Kenya ( KEFRI -under Kenya Biotechnology Programme Trust) and South Africa governments( through a South Africa multinational paper company that owned thousand acres of forest plantations for its paper mills) and funded by a British organization known as Gatsby Trust and US'ISSSA(Remember the Bananas tissue technology of JKUAT?)

Anyway, from outset we knew that there was a big demand of the product and even there was and still even today publication depicting of what you would make from planting these trees from KEFRI people. Their publication stated that after three years of planting their seelings , you could fetch an average of Ksh3,000 per tree in selling it as telephone pole to Kenya Post AND Telecommunication. And if you wait for 5 years, you could sell it KPLC at least for a minimum of Ksh10,000.00

But what we never reckoned at that time and even now was the kind of resistance we would face from the existing Cartel that had for years controlled this market and with assistance of top management of these two firms. Made of a minimum of 4 to 6 major companies in energy industry, these guys are quite ruthless.

Even after the Parliement in 2008 or 2009 had passed a motion that KPLC should initially source their transmission poles locally before venturing internatinally, the management did totally ignored this, and even after its Board of Directors also, passed a resolution of the same in 2009, and even after KEFRI through its Biotechnology Programme Project had organized the farmers as Forest Growers Association - that could negotiate for them as legal entity in putting a bid at KPLC or Rural Electrification. And even after both of them (KPLC &REA) had invited the organization to put an EOI Tender in January 2010, that they could be able to supply them treated poles. After submitting our collective Bid as an organization and led by KEFRI, the tender was opened in March 18th 2010 and that was the last time we had from them.

So Kagaingio, I hope with that little background , you would be able to see what sometimes you have to go through when you are faced with an almost monopolistic and cut-throat type of business.

Other than selling to Kenya power, what are the other uses there trees can be put to e.g Charcol, timber, export etc.

kaigangio
Thanks for your advise,but I can assure you I did thorough homework when I came to learn about the new venture that had recently at that time (2003) being introduced in the country for smallholder farmers who could alternatively invest in tree planting as subsitute of already pathetic situation of existing cash crops products(Coffee & Tea) in Central Province.

I can assure you those of us who took the risk did thorough research of the existing markets, locally and internationally . We knew the value of the Kenya market of treated transmission wood poles at that time was around 4 billion shilling annually (estimated to be around Ksh 7 billion now). And in most cases the KPLC had to import the product from Europe, Far East, South Africa and our neighbouring countries - Uganda, Tanzania and DRC.

This new hybrid seedlings (clones Eucalyptus seedling that would reach its maturity within a period of 5-7 years for the transmission poles instead of the conventional trees that takes 15-20 years to mature) was being imported from South Africa, through collaboration of Kenya ( KEFRI -under Kenya Biotechnology Programme Trust) and South Africa governments( through a South Africa multinational paper company that owned thousand acres of forest plantations for its paper mills) and funded by a British organization known as Gatsby Trust and US'ISSSA(Remember the Bananas tissue technology of JKUAT?)

Anyway, from outset we knew that there was a big demand of the product and even there was and still even today publication depicting of what you would make from planting these trees from KEFRI people. Their publication stated that after three years of planting their seelings , you could fetch an average of Ksh3,000 per tree in selling it as telephone pole to Kenya Post AND Telecommunication. And if you wait for 5 years, you could sell it KPLC at least for a minimum of Ksh10,000.00

But what we never reckoned at that time and even now was the kind of resistance we would face from the existing Cartel that had for years controlled this market and with assistance of top management of these two firms. Made of a minimum of 4 to 6 major companies in energy industry, these guys are quite ruthless.

Even after the Parliement in 2008 or 2009 had passed a motion that KPLC should initially source their transmission poles locally before venturing internatinally, the management did totally ignored this, and even after its Board of Directors also, passed a resolution of the same in 2009, and even after KEFRI through its Biotechnology Programme Project had organized the farmers as Forest Growers Association - that could negotiate for them as legal entity in putting a bid at KPLC or Rural Electrification. And even after both of them (KPLC &REA) had invited the organization to put an EOI Tender in January 2010, that they could be able to supply them treated poles. After submitting our collective Bid as an organization and led by KEFRI, the tender was opened in March 18th 2010 and that was the last time we had from them.

So Kagaingio, I hope with that little background , you would be able to see what sometimes you have to go through when you are faced with an almost monopolistic and cut-throat type of business.