Every household in Kenya at one point or another take legumes as part of their daily meals. They are among the most versatile and nutritious foods available.
Legumes are typically low in fat, contain no cholesterol, and are high in folate, potassium, iron and magnesium. They also contain beneficial fats and soluble and insoluble fiber. A good source of protein, legumes can be a healthy substitute for meat, which has more fat and cholesterol.
In Kenya, foods in the legume category include Canadian Beans, Rosecoco beans, Mwitemania beans, Mwezi moja, Dolochos (Njahi), Green grams, Cowpeas and groundnuts. Some of the benefits of legumes include the following:
- They contain high protein content of between 20 and 25 percent
- They are a good source of energy and provide folic acid, dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, which are deficient in maize, cassava and rice
- The cook faster and have little gas
- They are drought and pest tolerant
- They mature faster between 120 – 140 days
- They are harvested twice in a year.
- One is able to harvest at least between 8 -15 bags per acre
In the market, legimes are profitable if ventured into as an investment opportunity. The following are the current market prices in different towns in the country:
