Cassava growing in Western Kenya

Cassava crop has been undermined and thought to be a food crop for a specific community in Western Kenya. Most people dislike the crop because of its main product, ugali, which is termed as the “black ugali“.

Most farmers who grow cassava say that the crop has a lot of benefits apart from the most common known product, ugali.

First, the crop production is cheaper compared to maize and other crops that require fertilizer for their survival. “Cassava does not necessarily need fertilizer, it only require weeding and the crop will survive well.” Said Felistus Khalayi, a cassava farmer from Bumula Sub-County.

Cassava plant requires moderate rainfall and can also survive in areas that receive little rain. The crop can be inter-cropped with other crops such as beans, maize among others and they cannot be affected in any way.

The root tuber, takes between 1-2 years to mature, though there are some varieties that have been discovered that takes only six months to mature.

Due to higher costs of farm inputs like fertilizer and other chemicals, farmers from Busia and Bungoma Counties have now opted into growing cassava as their food crop. The crop needs no chemicals for spraying and also need less labour.

“You can sell cassava to big hotels like in Eldoret, Kisumu and also Nairobi and eventually earn income. We grow this crop to sell to those people who make chips and crisps in big towns. Cassava also has a high nutritive value.” Said Ruth Ejumata, a cassava farmer from Busia County.

The government on the other hand, should identify and support those farmers who grow this type of crop and create a ready market for their products. By so doing, most people from Bungoma and Busia Counties will have enough food and hunger eradication will have been achieved to a higher percentage.

By Peter Musaba