The nutrients in the nuts improve the soil which means a reduced need for fertilizers.Ĭompared to the cereals, the nuts have all the essential nutrients that a food needs and because of this, they help in the prevention of malnutrition and other health related complications like kwashiorkor and even rickets which are triggered by poor dieting. For instance the soils in Kakamega region where most farmers were practicing sugarcane farming, most of the soils lack nitrogen. Due to its high protein value it is a very important legume that can be a good substitute to meat, yet it is still considered as one of the prioritized neglected and underutilized species in Africa.Īside from diet enhancement and the rich proteins found in the nuts, the legumes also add nitrogen to the soil. The crop has a nutritive value of 65 per cent carbohydrate and 18 per cent protein content. It is resistant to high temperature and is suitable for marginal soils where other leguminous crops cannot be grown especially this region there are times when the temperatures are too high for other legumes”, added Daniel. “I thought it’s a good idea to try the Bambara nuts too, they used to be favorite dishes in the 90’s and early 2000 but currently even in the market it’s not easy to get them form the local shops because less people consume them an even plant them. Once shelled the groundnuts reduce in volume to four bags which he sells at Sh13,000 per bag while Bambara nuts retails at Sh250 per kilo translating to Sh22,500 per 90kg bag at Matungu market. In a season, the farmer harvests approximately 16 unshelled bags of groundnuts and up to 35 bags of Bambara nuts. The idea of venturing into nut farming was struck after his close friend shared the business idea which he liked and decided to give it a try. Manufacturers of Kabras Sugar deny claims of poison in its product and assure Kenyan farmers it will continue buying caneĭaniel Mumia at his farm in Marungu, Kakamega County. New sugarcane zoning rules offers farmers an expanded marketĮnterprising youth earns from sugarcane juice
The land was acquired from my father,” said Mumia. “I decided to grow groundnut and Bambara nut farming by expanding the in initial two acre farm into a six acre farm which was previously occupied by sugarcane. “I quit sugarcane farming two years ago due to delayed payments for cane delivered to Mumias Sugar Company which owes me Sh240,000 for 80 tonnes of produce,” said Mumia.ĭata from the agriculture ministry reveals that farmers who supplied cane to Mumias Sugar Company and have not been paid for two years are owed Sh889m, Sony Sugar Sh512m, Muhoroni-Miwani Sh474m, Chemelil Sugar Sh201m and Nzoia Sh524m. The farmer now earns approximately Sh752,000 per season from nut farming compared to Sh240,000 he used to take home from sugarcane farming. She had soothed you with gentle words that stated that he cared for you beyond most he had ever cared for before and he would apologize to you when the regret starts to settle in.Daniel Mumia, 24, a farmer in Kakamega County does not regret quitting sugarcane growing to focus on groundnut and Bambara nuts farming, a venture that is now earning him steady triple income. Miya had told you once, as she comforted you after a particularly nasty fight between you both, that you and ‘Tsumu were like soulmates and it was best not to hang on too much to his lies. That was seemingly unavoidable with ‘Tsumu, but his mother always said it was because you both were like stubborn mule’s complete carbon copies of each other and only different where it mattered. Naturally, you would always have mini disagreements between the two of you. It takes you back to when you were both kids, so much younger but still so unbelievably rowdy.