Renowned Kenyan scholar and foremost researcher on African indigenous vegetables (AIVs), based at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), has bagged the National Outstanding Research Award (NORA) for her outstanding work in “Biological Sciences, Technology and Innovation Category” during the inaugural Kenya National Research Festival (2024) on Friday, August 23, 2024.
According to Dickson Andala, CEO National Research Fund (NRF), the festival under the theme “Research Partnerships and Collaborations for Socio Economic Transformation” was organized “To underscore the importance of research in addressing Kenya’s development challenges and shaping its future and vision for sustainable socioeconomic growth and development.”
A member of the Kenya National Academy of Science Prof Mary Abukutsa has consistently drummed up support for AIVs through advocacy and promotion aimed at increasing the demand (production and consumption) of AIVs, noting that “commercialization remains a major obstacle to the farmers’ quest to maximize on value from their input.”
However, Prof Abukutsa states that when farmers access the right information, they learn various ways they can add value to their products through processes like solar drying, hence realizing significant steps towards poverty reduction and wealth creation as championed in the country’s development plans such as Kenya Vision 2030, and the Bottom up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The researcher lauds the trajectory initiated by National Research Fund last year to provide previously funded NRF researchers and innovators in Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) with tools needed to commercialize their research results and connect with potential customers and investors, thus realizing their intended impact.
“Besides championing availability of quality certified seeds to Kenyan farmers and linking them to the markets, Kenyan farmers should get involved through groups which provide produce in bulk, thus increasing their bargaining power which is invaluable in guaranteeing better prices for their products,” Prof Abukutsa advises.
Currently, Prof Abukutsa is spearheading a JKUAT-led consortium that includes Inter Region Economic Network (IREN Kenya), Local Development Research Institute (LDRI), and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. The consortium is upscaling production and commercialization of two vegetable varieties – Jute mallow (Mrenda) and African nightshade (Managu) – in Kiambu and Kakamega counties using climate smart technologies for food and nutrition security.
Noting a billion people globally are malnourished, Prof Abukutsa calls for “a change in people’s mindset towards AIVs, improvement of policies and prudent control measures to cut down on high post-harvest losses as essential avenues in increasing the available vegetable alternatives that could ensure accessibility of adequate high nutritional supplements crucial in addressing double malnutrition.”
A leading voice and proponent of AIVs and a full Professor of Horticulture at JKUAT, Abukutsa is a recipient of the African Union Top Woman Scientist in Earth and Life Sciences (2009), Presidential award, Elder of the order of the Burning Spear (EBS) in 2010 and the 2014 Edinburgh International Science Festival Medalist in recognition of her immense contribution in seeking solutions to Africa’s “Triple burden” of malnutrition: micronutrient deficiency, under-nutrition and obesity through sustainable production and utilization of leafy African indigenous vegetables, strongly believes there is a renewed interest in the African leafy vegetables.
She is however concerned by the slow and inadequate consumption of AIVs among Kenyans, whom she observes are consuming half WHO-recommended rates (73kg/person /year) of vegetables. This has contributed to triple malnutrition of micronutrient deficiency, under-nutrition and over-nutrition.
The most prevalent under-nutrition (micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger) problems are Iron deficiency anaemia and Vitamin A deficiency, while Iron deficiency anaemia is prevalent in Kenya, with over 50 per cent of the children under the age of five having this problem. Vitamin A deficiency is also widespread, affecting over 60 per cent of the children in Kenya. Poor health caused by low consumption of vegetables also causes low immunity.
On the other hand, over-nutrition is as a result of Kenyans eating large amounts of unhealthy fats, sugar, salt and processed foods, as well as consumption of inadequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, leading to obesity. About 30-40 per cent of Kenyans are obese and the epidemic is increasing at 40 per cent every 10 years, increasing the incidences of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer and cardio-vascular disorders.
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Prof Abukutsa expressed gratitude to God for winning the award.
“God has indeed been faithful in sustaining me in my journey as a researcher. It is not easy to describe how I am feeling. Being recognized as a national outstanding researcher is fulfilling. It is a testimony that the work researchers do is phenomenal and impactful to society and communities. I hope this award will inspire and motivate colleagues in the research enterprise to do more to drive science forward by seeking sustainable solutions to challenges of our time. I am deeply touched and filled with joy and gratitude,” she said.
Prof Abukutsa holds a PhD in Horticultural Sciences from University of London, UK, MSc in Agronomy, and BSc in Agriculture from University of Nairobi and has published over 100 publications, including books, book chapters and scholarly articles in referred journals.
By Patrick Amunavi
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