Mary Mungai, the founder of Superfoods Gardens, is a happy farmer perhaps due to the tidy income that she makes from her expansive lemon grass plantation.
Interestingly, Mungai's Lemon grass is not very popular in the local businesses but it is in high demand at the international markets.
In an interview with a local media outlet, she noted that her Lemon grass farm in Central Kenya has inspired her neighbours to join hands and grow the crop on a large scale and make a good living out of it.
"We are looking at ways of creating value-addition to the products that we take to the international market," she stated.
The agricultural venture is little-known, but as for Mungai, she is happy with her business operating under the Superfood Gardens brand name.
"In production, we normally get around 20Kgs per one square metre, and the export market buys one kilogram of lemon grass at Ksh200.
"The by-products can be used to create other items such as animal feeds, and the good thing is that cows like them so much," Mary explained.
At Superfood Gardens, Mary and her colleagues engage in a social enterprise that is working to improve the health and livelihoods of Kenyans by promoting the cultivation and consumption of superfoods.
To maximise the output of Lemon grass, Mary's organisation works with farmers, schools, and communities to provide training, resources, and support for growing and using superfoods.
Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods that have been shown to have a number of health benefits, including improved heart health, reduced risk of chronic diseases, and increased energy levels.
Superfood Gardens Kenya believes that by increasing the availability and consumption of superfoods, they can help to improve the health of Kenyans and reduce the burden of chronic diseases.
Mary's organisation also believes that by promoting the cultivation of superfoods such as Lemon grass, they can help to create sustainable livelihoods for farmers and improve food security.
Benefits of Lemon Grass
Lemongrass is a tall, tropical grass with a lemony aroma. It is used in cooking, as a natural insect repellent, and in traditional medicine.
Some of the benefits of Lemon grass include helping to improve digestion by stimulating the production of digestive enzymes. It can also help to relieve constipation and bloating.
Lemongrass also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce pain and swelling. It can be helpful for people with conditions such as arthritis, muscle pain, and headaches.
Lemongrass is a good source of antioxidants, which can help to boost the immune system and fight off infection, besides having sedative properties that can help to promote sleep. It can be helpful for people with insomnia or other sleep problems.
The grass can also help relieve stress with its calming properties that can help to clear anxiety. It can be helpful for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, and other stress-related conditions.
Lemongrass is a safe and versatile herb that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It can be added to food, used as a tea, or applied topically.
