Farmers in Kilifi cutting, selling baobab trees

A section of farmers in Tezo Mbuyuni have begun uprooting their baobab trees for export to Georgia. Farmers say the trees which are over 500 years old, are a hindrance to modern agricultural practices as the trees consume alot of water. And as Francis Mtalaki reports from Kilifi, the farmers there are now adopting food crops.

[@jmakathi6143]

cutting trees that will live longer than you is madness

[@NATUROPATHICTZ]

Nicknamed the “tree of life,” baobabs play a key role in their ecosystem. They help keep soil conditions humid, promote nutrient recycling, and prevent soil erosion. And, they are an important source of food, water, and shelter for various birds, reptiles, and insects.

[@samuelkaranja.5788]

There will be consequences of our actions

[@arumbanyasamba6312]

Big mistake my dear Kenyans. I know food is more important However let’s find other avenues

[@jmakathi6143]

I agree this is crazy man

[@cottonpickinghamburgerfrie620]

USA here I’m in shock.

[@thegirlchild6389]

Dr. Chokwe provide the community with basic services (water, sanitation, roads, schools, hospitals) and education scholarship. They will guard the environment by themselves. Your ministry can produce juice from mbuyu fruit, medicines from all parts of mbuyu tree and put up mobile restaurants/vipanda nearr mbuyu tree the period it has leaves, etc. Think outside the box. That community in their hearts are not happy cutting those trees, because some are their ancestors grave yards. The community is in distress and no one is reaching out to them.

[@NATUROPATHICTZ]

Hii ni laana, mnajilaani wenyewe 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@garamabe6891]

Giriama people huwa walemavu kwa kufikiria kwanzia kitambo. Hao hao tu ndio walikuwa wanasaidia mzungu kuuwa wakenya mzungu alipokuja kufanya ukoloni. Ndio walikuwa maaskari wa kwanza Kenya. Huwa ni watu wamelaaniwa

[@davidbalenciaga8830]

hii ina uhusiano gani na video hii?

[@yobrabrayo]

@@davidbalenciaga8830 uhusiano ni kwamba wana mazoea ya kufikiria kipumbavu..

[@VeeKayGreenerGrass]

That's crazy. Baobabs are literally water reservoirs.

[@hengemb]

This is horrifying! Ministry of Environment - where are you? what are you doing?

[@alkebulankemet808]

The govt should ban this business asap.i saw this people cutting down baobabs here in kilifi for money!!!! Really! Those mzungus were over excited because it's not their lands being destroyed

[@davidbalenciaga8830]

the government gave permission, these trees were bought officially, they grew on private lands, not in national parks! so envy silently

[@alaminalamoudy]

@@davidbalenciaga8830 who grew what! common sense says they didn't grow those trees neither did their ancestors 500 years ago they never ever existed in that so called thier private land

[@davidbalenciaga8830]

@@alaminalamoudy don't talk nonsense, what difference does it make who and when planted these trees, do we live in the 16th century? every baobab was planted by people? these trees are destroyed in order to continue to put them in the furnace. And in this case, they will go to the botanical garden, where thousands of tourists will see who do not have the opportunity to fly to Africa .

[@alkebulankemet808]

Very strange story..stop cutting baobabs please,it is very selfish to destroy such a tree really.the govt should ban that business asap!

[@euniceschoenfelder3570]

Those musungus knows what important that trees that why they are buying them destroying the natural because of money mutaria you will get money back not for ever

[@kabuthakabutha9472]

Watu wazaliwa mpaka wafa hawajawai shika laki Tatu, Leo hii wapewa mkononi rahisi. Mmmhh KATAAAAA. Kuna njaa lazima tuleee.

[@NATUROPATHICTZ]

Hiyo Jangwa hapo kwenda Lamu ndio itakuwa mara 1000, guys you have to respect nature, God is nature.

[@euniceschoenfelder3570]

Will regrate carting those tree

[@alkebulankemet808]

exactly..when we were growing up,our parents told us that those baobabs are not to be tampered with,they can cause calamities and apart from that why destroy them for mere things like money even? People have become so greedy,may God strike them with lightening both buyers and sellers nkt

[@sundaytosha8368]

That's actually happening along our family land...i know environmentalists will talk but i've lived next to these trees my entire life and I can tell you for sure the only thing they're useful for is mabuyu, aesthetics and once in a while some shade when they feel like having their leaves on. If you want to fully utilize your land in farming you unfortunately have to cut them down. We even asked the environmentalists why we shouldn't sell them but they gave dodgy answers because none of them even know their benefits or even have them on their land.

[@lisak9361]

Your type of ignorance is dangerous. Please educate yourself before spewing such nonsense.

[@GZB669]

You are a fool.

[@faithk3093]

You need to dig deeper and research more about the baobab tree benefits. The first question to ask yourselves is, why would a company spend billions of dollars just to buy it? There's something they know that you don't.

[@xamarambugua3906]

What an ignorant statement!

[@cottonpickinghamburgerfrie620]

If foreign buyers come to harvest bet your life they are in it for the money. Tell me which fork tongue does anything for free, if it’s free they planning another profit under your feet. Amazing how a people can be so intellectually wise , at the same time love nature with questions.

[@allanmibei]

We are a sick country

[@mariamatieno6613]

Very big mistake ...how can you uproot African pride

[@nassirali2123]

Can this be extended to Magarini pliz

[@janaleokesho8374]

Let them cut them and plant friendly one and intercrop

[@lisak9361]

You are clueless. Please seek to be educated!!

[@xamarambugua3906]

This is the type of ignorance that keeps us undeveloped!

[@yobrabrayo]

"friendly"???trees that have stood for hundreds of years!!!

[@alsiddique365]

I think 🤔 this is not the right thing to do. Exploitation at its worst