Kenyan in US Grows Saga Vegetable to Feed Family

Erick Ateka and Moses Moturi work at the Covenant Church Farm ran by the Village Agricultural Cooperative on May 22, 2023.
Erick Ateka and Moses Moturi work at the Covenant Church Farm ran by the Village Agricultural Cooperative on May 22, 2023.
Photo
Noah Fish

A Kenyan living in Rochester, Minnesota, grows saga and other traditional vegetables to feed his family.

Moses Moturi moved to the United States on an academic scholarship, and after completing his studies, he got a career in emergency medicine.

In an interview with Post Bulletin, Moturi explained that he started farming saga (spider plant), cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, and onions to substitute for his active income.

The land where he grows the vegetables was donated by the Covenant Church Farm, run by the Village Agricultural Cooperative.

A photo collage of saga vegetable.
A photo collage of saga vegetable.
Photo
AgroDuka

"I depend on farming, and I depend on work too,” Moturi revealed that he does not sell his saga or other vegetables he grows on the farm

Farming, he added, was also a good leisure activity besides producing food. 

"Sometimes you may get off from work and come here and can give it like an hour, go back to sleep, go back to work," he explained how farming helped him wind up.

In the venture, he partnered with other Kenyans, Erick Ateka and Ben Ongeri. 

Ateka, who hails from Kisii County, grows collard greens, tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro and other produce on his plot. 

"I believe in that organic, healthy eating, so if I can grow some of those crops organically, I find that to be one of the steps towards healthy eating.

"We are doing this to literally provide for the family," he explained.

Ben Ongeri, on the other hand, is a nursing student who uses farming to wind up and remind himself of Kenya.

“The farms remind me of Kenya since we raised vegetables in a small garden back home,” he stated.

With various organisations sponsoring, the Village Agricultural Cooperative does not charge the trio to grow their vegetables. This allows them to fully focus on their productivity. 

Saga is a popular nutritious vegetable grown in Kenya which is rich in proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals which are lacking in most leafy vegetables.

The vegetable can also be grown as a cash crop since it is a source of edible oil which is an important ingredient in the manufacture of detergents.

Kenyans have continued finding considerable success in growing indigenous vegetables in the US.

Henrietta Moraa Isaboke who has resided in the US for 21 years told Kenyans.co.ke that she had made a fortune by selling Managu (African nightshade) and other indigenous vegetables.

Moraa revealed that her farm which is slightly over one acre, has been sufficient to sustain her in the US.

 

 

Erick Ateka, Ben Ongeri and Moses Moturi at the Covenant Church Farm ran by the Village Agricultural Cooperative on May 22, 2023.
Erick Ateka, Ben Ongeri and Moses Moturi at the Covenant Church Farm run by the Village Agricultural Cooperative on May 22, 2023.
Photo
Noah Fish