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Last Updated: 19/12/2005
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The Poverty Eradication Commission has set aside Ksh 87 million to support the growing of the amaranth crop, in the next three years.
Dr. Gilbert Oluoch, Chairman of the Poverty Eradication Commission, says that his Commission has fallen for the crop and is now supporting it in 33 districts countrywide.
Amaranth, locally known as Terere in Nyeri, or Ododo, in Nyanza, is a member of the amaranthaceous group of plants, and is classified as “pseudo cereal”. It is said to have originated from Mexico where it was planted for its grains, unlike the variety found in most parts of Africa, which grows wild and is used as vegetable only.
The ministry of agriculture registered grain amaranth in 1991 as a crop in Kenya. Since then its spread has been very slow perhaps owing to the low esteem the locals held its African variety. But now it is emerging that the crop could be the answer to those areas where finding a suitable cash crop has been a problem.
As part of its rapid results initiatives, the Poverty Eradication Commission is promoting amaranth as a cash crop that could help fight poverty.
"As a commercial crop, amaranth has a potential of increasing family income and in this respect, the commission has set aside Ksh. 87 million to support the growing of the crop" he adds.
He also says that the crop has medicinal value and can be used in the management of diseases such as diabetes, tuberculosis, marasmus, kwashiorkor, and liver complications among others.
The PEC has empowered the smallholder farmers so that they could be able to get an income, improve nutrition, help in health management and ensure food security.
A smallholder farmer who spends about sh.16, 000 on planting Amaranth on an acre of land can be expected to recover the whole amount as profit after only 45 days. Amaranth matures between 45 to75 days.
A market has also been found where the smallholder farmers can sell their products. African Amaranth Ltd is a company that is dealing in amaranth seeds and grains and will be buying from farmers at sh.40 per kilogram of grain amaranth and Ksh. 100 per kilogram of seed amaranth
So far 28 smallholder farmers have started growing amaranth on a commercial basis in Bondo district on a pilot basis.
The Bondo District Agriculture Officer Mr. J. Mugambi says that his department’s staff is going flat out to popularize the new crop in a bid to introduce a cash crop in an area that has been starved of a viable cash crop.
The DAO says that so far, the response has been good as people realize that what has been considered an edible weed can be turned into a cash cow.
He is optimistic especially with the financial backing from the PEC saying that raising initial funds has always been a drawback in any enterprise and hopes that within the three years of the project’s life, more farmers shall have adopted the crop.
The PEC money will be disbursed through micro financial institutions so that smallholder farmers can be able to access the funds to start amaranth planting.
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