From Managu to Millions: How Traditional Vegetables Are Turning Lugari Farmers into Top Earners

By Margaret Naishorua

Farmers in Lugari Sub-County, Kakamega County, are increasingly embracing traditional vegetables as a lucrative alternative to conventional crops, with many earning significantly higher returns than those growing kale and cabbage.

Indigenous vegetables such as black nightshade (managu), amaranth (terere), spider plant (saga), cowpea leaves (kunde), and pumpkin leaves are rapidly gaining popularity, transforming household incomes while contributing to improved nutrition and food security.

Among the beneficiaries is Peter Wekesa, a farmer from Lumakanda, who says the shift to indigenous vegetables has greatly improved his earnings due to their fast maturity and high market demand.

"I harvest after just one week, and I rarely keep the vegetables for long because traders buy everything directly from my farm," Wekesa said.

He noted that a 90-kilogram sack of indigenous vegetables sells for between Sh3,500 and Sh5,000, depending on the season, compared to Sh1,500 to Sh2,500 for the same quantity of kale or cabbage. Unlike many conventional vegetables, indigenous varieties can also be harvested multiple times, providing farmers with a steady source of income throughout the season.

Lugari Sub-County Agriculture Officer Kakai Wekesa attributes the growing demand to increased public awareness of healthy eating habits.

"Traditional vegetables are rich in iron, calcium, vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants. More consumers are embracing healthier diets, making these crops commercially attractive to farmers," he explained.

Agricultural experts say the renewed interest in indigenous vegetables is also helping preserve local crop varieties while creating sustainable livelihoods for small-scale farmers.

Research by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has highlighted the role of indigenous vegetables in improving nutrition, strengthening food security, and enhancing resilience among farming communities.

As consumer demand continues to rise across Kenya, farmers in Lugari are demonstrating that traditional vegetables are not only preserving cultural food heritage but are also becoming a profitable agribusiness capable of transforming rural livelihoods.