Agriculture in Kenya is among the most innovative in the world, according to the United Nations. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) rates Kenya as one of the leading global countries in smart production of fresh produce. Key among other reasons that should motivate imports from the country is the Farmer Field School (FFS), a FAO drive. It has let agriculturalists and students in the country to train in farm-related studies that impact on not only the farm but the supply chain.
It is not surprising that Kenya was the initial African state to send a delegation in the FFS drive when it first began in Asia. There were also trainings in Israel where students learned about sustainable agriculture in arid climate. Added these two examples, the country is also seeking to implement the Smart Agriculture scheme from its successful Zimbabwean counterparts.
Kenya should also be your first choice of fresh produce import because it is practicing climate-smart agriculture. This stands for food that grows in naturally hard conditions but still thrives like any other. This is due to sustainable irrigation. Some parts of the world, like Israel, practice this type of agriculture but may modify the natural conditions. But the Kenya agricultural system lacks the tools to its advantage: the food grows naturally and thus attracts foreign grocery buyers who go for organic foods.
Through the help of United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), Kenya has undertaken a climate-smart farming model for the years 2017 to 2026. The current phase of the plan is to ensure the locals have food security even as they try new methods of surplus fresh produce production. The aim is to ensure that the reality of grain production reducing by 20%, come 2050, does not come to bear on the sector due to global warming.
Here are some of the foods you can order from Kenya that grow under any of the above innovative methods:
Cherry tomatoes: the climbing plants can grow quite well in soil-free hydroponic solutions. These contain only natural nutrients, including minerals.
Strawberry: one of the best fruits for boosting health immunity, strawberries are a hardy crop that can thrive even better in modern hydroponic farms. This reduces the stress of farming space and other resources.
Barley: through the innovative hydroponic farming, cow grass can reach thirty centimeters in height by nurturing in mineral-rich water. This reduces the pain of looking for grazing land in arid parts where barley is scarce.
The hydroponic method provides a lasting water solution for up to a year, after which the system undergoes new installation. This is equivalent to two maize seasons, of six months, each.
Other export crops that you can bet a great supply of from Kenya through innovative means of farming include:
Passion fruits: passion, especially the yellow cultivar, has a great resilience and ranks among the fruits in Kenya that grow in innovative ways. Firstly, it has an affinity for intercropping, which reduces land stress, and it has a lifespan of 36 months of regular harvests.
Mushroom: traditionally a Western or Oriental crop, the mushroom is one of the versatile fresh produce for gourmets’ export that the country now practices. It does well in arid regions but also thrives in soil-free interior environments. All that farmers need is a small shed that has a water solution for the roots of the plants and voila, a 10 m by 10 m patch of land can produce a crop worth KSH300,000 ( $3000).
Thus, it is not too late to add Kenya’s family growers’ fresh produce to your list of the sources of nutritional foods. Besides learning from experts on the most innovative farming trends, the farmers are also acquiring Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). You can thus expect the best produce from them.
If you have any query, talk to us at Fresh From Kenya.