People check Moringa saplings given away by Kuwaiti farmer Nasser Al-Azmi.

KUWAIT: For the third year in a row, Kuwaiti farmer Nasser Al-Azmi is giving away 100,000 tree saplings as part of an effort to encourage a 'greener' Kuwait. Last week he distributed saplings in Adailiya and yesterday handed out hundreds more in Rawda. Last year, he distributed around 100,000 free saplings and in his first year around 16,000 saplings.

Nutritional value

Azmi said he choose distribute Moringa saplings this year in view of the plant's significance as a major sources of vitamins and nutritional supplements. "I plan to distribute 100,000 saplings of Moringa every year for free," he said, noting that the saplings would be distributed in various areas such as Adailiya, desert and camping areas, Rawda, Yarmouk, Sabahiya. Salwa and the areas to the north, west and south of Kuwait.

"This year, we gave away four saplings per citizen regardless of age because we wish to increase the number of citizens keen on planting such trees," he said, pointing out that he had planted some crops that had been impossible to be grown in Kuwait such as coffee, cardamom, tea and saffron. Azmi also expressed plans to plant cocoa, red banana and all types of spices and plants used as herbal medicines.

National projects

Azmi added that he fully supports national projects such as 'the national wood', rehabilitating Kuwaiti islands and the Quran park. "However, we are still looking for buildings to launch these initiatives and ideas and have a great deal of trust in our officials and fellow-citizens," he added.

Furthermore, Azmi added that one of his ideas was to grow various plants at Kubbar island and that he had accordingly cooperated with eight ministries and bodies including the information, defense, interior and health ministries in addition to the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR), the Environment Public Authority (EPA), Kuwait Municipality and some volunteers. He added that saplings had been already planted there two years ago and the results were still being observed by EPA with the aim of increasing vegetation and reducing temperature rates as well as work as sand barriers.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi