The African indigenous (traditional) vegetables are reclaiming their place on lunch and dinner tables. Once dismissed as a poor man’s food, traditional vegetables are returning to form an integral part of people’s diets. The essential contributions to nutrition and food security of traditional vegetables are gaining traction globally.
Previously, most traditional vegetables grew naturally on cultivated lands. Some were intercropped with other staple foods such as maize and beans and cherished for their nutritional and health benefits. However, the introduction of exotic leafy vegetables led to a decline in the cultivation of traditional greens, relegating them to the status of weeds and inferior food items. The growing awareness about their nutritional and medicinal profiles has sparked a resurgence of interest in these once-overlooked greens, shifting people’s perceptions and attitudes.
In Kenya, the popular traditional vegetables include African nightshade (manage), spider plant (saga), cowpea (kunde), jute mallow/cover crop (mrenda), African kale (kanzira), pumpkin leaves (malenge) and amaranthus (terere). Packed with vitamins and minerals, these vegetables are considered a good deterrent to malnutrition. Beyond their nutritional profiles, traditional vegetables also have medicinal properties. Some species like African nightshade are said to be antioxidants and heal stomach-related illnesses.
The resurgence of interest in traditional vegetables is not limited to rural markets. Nearly all supermarkets countrywide have a section for fresh leafy vegetables, including traditional vegetables. Kenyans, like several other Africans, are beginning to appreciate the nutritional and medicinal prowess of these vegetables. People who visit eateries prefer traditional vegetables to other leafy vegetables. Every morning, tonnes of traditional vegetables are delivered to various urban markets countrywide.
Consumption of traditional vegetables is increasing exponentially. The most recent insights from Agnexus’s Agritrack reveal that farmers’ investment in traditional vegetables has increased three-fold over the last three years, signalling a lucrative opportunity for seed producers. In 2023, the sales value of seeds for African indigenous vegetables from agro- dealers surpassed KES 100 million. The insights show that African nightshade is Kenya’s most preferred traditional vegetable. Three in ten seeds for traditional vegetables purchased in Kenya are African nightshade seeds. Furthermore, there is also a growing preference for spider plant vegetables among Kenyans. The purchase of spider plant seeds from agro-dealers almost doubled between 2021 and 2023. To get the latest insights from Agnexus Agritrack on farmer’s investment in traditional vegetables.
The conversation about food security should not be limited to staple foods such as maize. African indigenous leafy vegetables can play a critical role in ending hunger and malnutrition across Africa. In the face of changing climate, some traditional vegetables are adapted to local growing conditions requiring less water and fertilisers than other conventional crops. By promoting the cultivation and consumption of these vegetables, communities can enhance their food and nutritional security. Indigenous vegetables also offer a compelling solution to the growing demand for fresh and locally sourced foods. Continuous and sustainable farming of these vegetables would require investment in quality seeds, modern farming techniques and infrastructure such as irrigation, storage facilities and efficient transportation networks to ensure year-round production, reduce post-harvest losses and expand crop market access.