Indigenous plants are good for our health.
In fact, indigenous plants can help the country manage the perennial food shortage especially during the dry spell if well conserved.
Joseph Wambua, a researcher in usage of indigenous trees and other plants, said a good percentage are edible and have high nutritional value.
The plants which include trees, vegetables, fruits and roots also have medicinal value, and thus are of great benefit to society.
Most farmers, he added, due to lack of knowledge, do not conserve indigenous plants despite playing a big role in conservation.
What farmers don’t know is that they need to domesticate indigenous plants in their systems as they do well even in poor weather conditions.
“The government needs to educate people on the importance of indigenous plants as they have more use than exotic ones. They add a lot of value to the soil and in conserving the environment,” he said.