HerDithy: Urban farming, nutrition and value addition. #3

Karibu.

Nairobi is the 21st most expensive city in Africa: the most expensive in East Africa. These might be good indicators of a strong economy, but how does it roll down to the financial contribution and power held by Wanjiku? With the constant enhancement of tech and innovation, crops and animals are being modified, cross-bred and genetically modified to feed the consumer needs of the rapidly growing population. Technology advancements have enhanced agricultural contributions to livelihoods. Transporting tomatoes from Ol Kalau has become affordable to the farmer, the broker, Mama mboga, because of working transport networks and government facilitation.

Urban farming not only involves the tools of farming, but it also involves new methods of farming, improved quality of seeds and fertilizers. This is to better the quality of food we produce. Science has had a large contribution to agriculture: from identifying edible plants, pests and diseases, breaking down components and their benefits, just to name a few of its positive enhancements. This has had a ripple effect in manufacturing industries that have been coming up with different ways go consume agricultural products and contribute to sustenance of the young population.

Nutrition and dietetics have an important role in the growth and wellness of human beings. How mass populations have a preference to certain crops for nourishment is attributed to factors such as the diversity of culture, embedding traditions and geographical settlements. Be it a nice plate of coconut fish in Sumba Island, or nice camel milk in Merti, the type of food produced and consumed is enhanced by the self- sustainable natural ecosystem.

Looking at individual products and industries, the creative industry spreads across agriculture in many ways.  Factors such as cost, location and societal norms influence value addition of a product. One product, such as maize, can be utilized in numerous ways to meet the needs of the food chain at different levels. Looking at location, in Kenya, maize meal can make ugali, it can make porridge. Maize husks can make animal feeds. Elsewhere, the Chinese eat rice, make wine from rice, and even beauty products from rice such as face powder.

Secondly, an industry such as hospitality has invested in unique talent and etiquette to sell more products and services all channeled from agriculture. Whether it is the imported champagne, the famous gin in town, serviettes, the maize guy at the stage, your mutura plug, agricultural products are constantly adding value on the move and changing ownership. The value addition bit is what keeps us on the shelves and markets checking what is new and how much does it cost. From your favorite crisps, coconut cream, air freshener and vegetables.

People have come up with ways of delivering agricultural products and services through numerous, creative ways. Technology inventions such as delivery applications have made food establishments improve their marketing strategies that translate to more sales. Tech companies such as Uber Eats is an example of an intermediary that offers convenience to reach customer satisfaction. Since the pandemic began in 2020, this has created more job opportunities for young people.

Our societies are constantly evolving. From the way we dress, leadership regimes, how we do business and even the things we eat. A hundred years ago, they did not make ugali and nyama choma the way they do now. Most likely, a hundred years from now, it might be non- existent or exists with a different twist to it (that would be heart breaking). Having an engine of progressive minds that initiate new, innovative ways of consuming products, will put the country and continent a step forward. This will improve livelihoods and strengthen the economy.


Stay woke, 

Mwihaki Karanja



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

🫕The Rotating Pot: African Women and Indigenous Finance

Image
🏳 The Sacred Pot That Never Runs Dry Before there were bank branches or Bitcoin, there were women. Women who gathered under mango trees, in courtyards, in kitchens—passing cowry shells, telling stories, and building empires out of community, not credit scores. They called it esusu, chama, stokvel, susu, tontine, ekub. We call it the Rotating Pot —a system that stirs up more than money. It stirs hope, solidarity, and generational wealth. This isn't just informal banking. This is indigenous brilliance , cooked slow and strong in the hands of African women who knew: "African women don't `hustle' - we engineer economies." - Arese Ugwu 1. What Is the Rotating Pot? Think of a circle. A circle of trust. Each woman contributes a set amount of money regularly. Each cycle, one woman takes the pot. Round and round it goes—like a heartbeat of shared resilience. Across Africa, it has many names: Esusu – Nigeria Chama – Kenya Stokvel – South Africa Susu / Ntoboa – Ghan...
Read more

Kenya’s Female Music Icons: 10 Legends and Rising Stars You Need to Know🎶🇰🇪

Image
Close your eyes and think of a song that reminds you to breathe again. A melody that stitched you back together. Now imagine the voice behind it—and make her Kenyan. Make her fierce, tender, audacious, ancestral. This is not just about music.  This is about lineage. Memory. Movement. Since the 1960s, Kenyan women in music have not merely entertained—they carved out space in a world that too often tried to silence them. From the echoing harmonies of traditional folk songs to Billboard-worthy Afro-soul, they have moved societies, challenged norms, and spoken truth to power. But first, let’s confront the numbers. As of 2024, less than 20% of top-charting Kenyan artists across major streaming platforms are women. Still, their cultural impact? Colossal. From launching revolutions of thought to influencing policy narratives, Kenyan female musicians are not just performers—they are power brokers, archivists, activists, and visionaries. In a country reckoning with civic unrest, generationa...
Read more

⌨️ CTRL + Her: The Tech Era - Infusing Code to Community♀

Image
When tradition meets technology, African women aren't just joining the table — they're rewriting the algorithm. "You cannot empower a woman and not transform a society." – Dr. Nnenna Nwakanma Across bustling urban centers and sun-kissed rural towns, something quietly radical is happening: African women are not just participating in the digital revolution — they are steering it. From leading-edge code to indigenous knowledge systems, women are bridging tech and tradition with a grace that only comes from deep cultural knowing. The digital frontier is not gender-neutral — it's increasingly female.  🌉Bridging Braids and Bandwidth In urban and rural Kenya, under the shade of acacia trees and bustling towns, you might hear the hum of code as loudly as the hum of a generator. Organizations like AkiraChix and She Code Africa are training girls in coding, digital literacy, and AI — not in spite of their environment, but because of it. These are not urban-import solut...
Read more