While many farmers in the Western region generally grow white maize to meet their nutritional and economic demands, Gentrix Naliaka Maindi has taken a different approach.
She feels purple maize, also known as ‘makondo’ or ‘namba nane’, is considerably more beneficial and nutrient-dense than white maize.
Naliaka’s journey began in 2017, when she decided to incorporate the indigenous corn variety into her farming operations.
She began on a small quarter-acre plot of land, but her commitment and conviction in the potential of purple maize inspired her to invest Ksh 100,000 in 2022.
Naliaka cultivated three acres of the crop.
“Initially, I began growing it since it is natural. Second, it provides greater benefits than the white ones. I was intrigued by this purple maize and chose the seeds to plant exclusively,” she said.
Naliaka mentioned that issues in the agriculture sector include lack of knowledge among the younger generation about indigenous maize types such as purple maize.
However, she insists that this crop is a nutritious powerhouse with numerous health benefits.
“It is a basic diet that improves the body’s immunity to illnesses. It is also good to patients who suffer from lifestyle conditions like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It is even thought to have cancer-fighting properties,” she stated.
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Purple maize has more use than just being a culinary staple.
Its natural pigment offers brilliant color to a variety of culinary preparations and is in high demand among food processing businesses.
Presently, Naliaka is the only purple maize producer in her area.
She practices rigorous farming, which requires cultivating the land twice before planting the seeds. She uses a variety of fertilizers, including DAP, CAN and NPK, to achieve optimal maize growth.
Moving forward, Naliaka intends to switch to organic fertilizers to improve the sustainability of her farming operations.
The process from planting to harvest takes about six months, but some people choose to harvest as early as four months, when the maize is still young and tender enough for boiling and consumption.
Despite the obvious advantages of purple maize growing, it is not without obstacles. Pests can harm crops and irregular rainfall patterns can cause uneven seed germination.
Farmers like Maindi have additional challenges in obtaining adequate agricultural supplies.
Furthermore, convincing consumers who are used to white maize to adopt the purple type takes time and instruction.
