Farmers in Kiambu County have been advised to venture more into growing indigenous crops to enhance food security in the area.
Speaking from her office on Thursday, Kiambu Agricultural Officer Jane Muigai, said that small scale farmers should concentrate on crops which could be relied on during erratic rainfall.
She said farmers could succeed in doing this by dividing their farms into smaller portions to incorporate the indigenous crops alongside their usual maize and beans which had become their staple food.
According to Muigai, the indigenous crops which include sweet potatoes, cassava, yams and arrowroots, had the ability to benefit the farmers economically as most were not affected by the changing weather patterns.
She also noted that most of these crops were almost immune to many crops’ diseases making them less expensive to cultivate.
She said the indigenous crops, commonly referred to as orphaned crops, had lots of nutritional benefits and that growing the crops would improve the value and quality of food taken by the consumers since most of them could be consumed without being processed.
“The Ministry is willing to assist farmers who wish to cultivate the indigenous crops by getting them the best seeds from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) at a subsidised price, she said.
Vincent Gachara, a farmer at Kirigiti village supported the officer’s sentiments saying it was indeed true that these indigenous crops were immune to many crops diseases.
He added that the crops fetched good returns when they matured because most farmers had discarded them.
Gachara, who grows arrowroots and sweet potatoes for commercial purposes, revealed that it was through his farming activity that he had managed to earn an honest shilling to efficiently cater for his nuclear family.
“I mainly supply my produce to market sellers within various parts of Kiambu at a wholesale price,” he said.
“However, I recently started selling them to neighbouring villagers because of their high demand. I can confidently say it’s a business that is worthy taking up,” said Gachara.