Kenyans urged to embrace traditional organic foods

Enthusiasts of indigenous foods and environmental-friendly agriculture over the weekend converged in Nakuru to showcase traditional and organic food.

The event was aimed at creating awareness of the health benefits of climate-resilient agriculture as well as embracing indigenous food in order to enhance food security.

The meeting brought together over 50 farmers who represented different farming groups from across the country and other stakeholders in the climate-resilient agriculture sector.

It was organised by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management-Kenya (Pelum-Kenya), an umbrella body for smallholder farming groups.

In a press statement, smallholder farmers raised the alarm over the possibility of Kenya losing indigenous seeds as the hybrid varieties are highly preferred and commercialised.

“The farmers’ seed sovereignty is under threat from changes to national and regional legislation,” said Justus Mwololo, the national secretary-general of Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum.

With new plant varieties becoming popular lately, Mwololo expressed fears that the country was at risk of losing all traditional seed varieties.

“Although we have relied on these (traditional) varieties for ages, they are at risk of being contaminated with genetic materials that are owned and patented by multinational corporations,” he said.

END PROLIFERATION OF GMOS

The farmers called for the termination of introduction and proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), warning that the country may entirely depend on giant biotech companies in future.

Nakuru County Executive for Environment, Water and National Resources, Richard Rop, who was the chief guest, challenged Africa to embrace traditional food as they were healthier.

“Africans must start taking proper food as opposed to processed ‘modern day’ foods which cause diseases such as cancer and diabetes,” said Mr Rop.

In order to succeed in agriculture, he said, farmers and other stakeholders must be keen on environmental conservation as agriculture and environment are inseparable.

Pelum National Co-ordinator Zachary Makaya retaliated the organisation’s commitment towards promoting climate-resilient agriculture saying this would save the environment and the health of the people.

INVOLVE FARMERS IN POLICY MAKING

He said small-scale farmers need to be involved in policy matters adding that they represented about 80 per cent of the farming community in Africa.

Among food stuffs that were showcased at the event included traditional herbs, cereals, roots like sweet potatoes and seeds, among others.

At the climax of the event, various primary and secondary schools presented dances and poems on climate-resilient agriculture.

“We involved children to ensure that the message of conservation-focused agriculture is passed from one generation to the next and beyond,” said Pelum’s projects officer Jeff Kahuho.

He urged parents to expose their children to organically farmed indigenous foods which are strong and healthier.

Kahuho challenged the government to support agro-ecology as a way of fighting lifestyle diseases and offering food diversity to the citizens.

The farmers, who represented 18 counties, urged the government to reject GMOs and instead embrace and promote agro-ecology for a healthier nation.