Traditional Food Crops and Their Role in Food and Nutritional Security in Kenya

In Kenya, traditional food crops play an important role in food and nutritional security, especially in the dry parts of Kenya. This study set out to document the most important traditional food crops in Kenya and highlight their production levels, production ecologies, as well as their nutritional value. The findings reveal that the relative importance of traditional food crops differs from one area to another and, while some are produced for subsistence use; others, like sweet potatoes, are grown for commercial purposes. Despite their potential contribution to food and nutritional security, production of traditional food crops is far below that of maize (the main staple food in Kenya). The authors recommend rigorous promotion to increase their production and consumption, since traditional food crops are grown in the arid and semi-arid parts of the country where maize does not perform as well.