Nairobi:The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has introduced a new initiative aimed at increasing the production of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) among urban farmers in Nairobi and surrounding areas.
According to Kenya News Agency, the project, named Establishment and Scaling-Out of Nutrition-Sensitive African Indigenous Vegetable Urban Farming Technologies, Innovations and Management Practices (TIMPs), is supported by the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP). It aims to expand community gardens, train urban farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve household nutrition. The long-term goals include increasing local incomes and enhancing access to nutritious indigenous vegetables.
During an inception and sensitization meeting at the KALRO Kabete Food Crops Research Centre, Centre Director Dr. Caroline Kundu emphasized the collaboration’s potential to unify agricultural research, public health expertise, private sector innovations, and farmer participation to promote sustainable urban farming. Dr. Kundu highlighted that the project will train more farmers, expand community gardens, and utilize solar drying to minimize post-harvest losses, thereby bringing nutritious vegetables to more households.
The initiative addresses urban farmers’ challenges, such as limited farming space and the need for safe produce handling and preservation. By growing indigenous vegetables like managu, terere, and sagaa, households can diversify their diets and generate income from surplus produce.
KALRO will provide expertise and improved vegetable varieties, while health and nutrition officers will guide farmers on safe food production practices. The private sector, represented by Agri Plant Kenya Limited, will offer urban farming solutions for space-limited environments, facilitating vegetable growth even in land-scarce areas.
Farmers participating in the initiative are expected to adopt and propagate the technologies and practices within their communities, helping the project reach more households. Solar drying is promoted as a preservation method to allow farmers to store surplus vegetables, reducing losses when supply exceeds demand. However, the project’s effects on reducing post-harvest losses and boosting farmers’ incomes remain to be seen.
