High profits from crops they neither know nor eat

By Maore Ithula and Agencies

It is friendly overthrow of traditional farming methods that farmers in parts of Meru region have embraced with open arms.

Agents who represent horticultural exporters have introduced crops unknown to the region and are paying farmers handsomely to grow them.

Farmer’s whose land has been leased do not know the names of the crops nor do they consume them, their only motivation is the cash they are paid by the agents who harvest and take them away.

An Israeli woman prepares young artichoke shoots usually preferred as a salad. Photos: Maore Ithula/Standard]

Zachary Muthomi the Meru Green director and founder does not want to speak much about the crop. But the retired agricultural officer says artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) is a perennial crop of the thistle (with prickly leaves) species.

He says this is the first time the crop is being produced in the country but declines to talk about the intricacies of his business before it takes off.

For export

A check confirms that Meru Green is cleared by the Horticultural Crop Development Authority and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services to deal in artichoke and other crops. It is one of many horticultural crops being grown locally purely for export.

"I do not wish to discuss this business in detail because am not sure whether it will be in my interest. We are trying to identify which species of the crop can do better in this region before we talk of the source of the crop or the fresh produce thereafter," he said as showed legal documents of his trade hanging on his office wall at Gatimbi Market.

Independent research on the Internet reveals that artichoke has its origin in Southern Europe. The plant grows to between 1.5 and two meters tall.

It has arching, lobed, green leaves that are between 50 and 85 centimetres long.

Edible bud

Its flowers develop in a large head around an edible bud that is about eight to 15 centimetres in diameter with numerous triangular scales.

The edible portion of the buds consists of the fleshy lower portions of the fleshy leaf.

More information indicates that the plant is low in saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium.

Specialists say artichoke has been shown to improve digestion, liver function, and help lower high cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease.