By Patrick Amunavi

Renowned Kenyan scholar and foremost researcher on African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) based at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Prof. Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, has bagged the National Outstanding Research Award (NORA) “for her pioneering research in agricultural sciences, particularly in the promotion and sustainability of indigenous vegetables and plants. Her work has significantly contributed to food security and nutrition in Kenya and beyond.”

Prof Abukutsa was recognized in the “Biological sciences, technology and innovation category,” during the Inaugural Kenya National Research Festival (2024) on Friday, August 23, 2024.

The festival held under the theme: “Research Partnerships and Collaborations for Socio Economic Transformation,” was organized “To underscore the importance of research in addressing Kenya’s development challenegs and shaping its future and vision for sustainable socioeconomic growth and development from August 19 – 23, 2024.”

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 feel. To be recognized as a national outstanding researcher is fulfilling. 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.”

A member of the Kenya National Academy of Science, Prof. Abukutsa has consistently drummed up support for AIVs through advocacy and promotion aimed at increasing the demand (production and consumption) of AIVs, notes 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 funded by the Government through National Research Fund,  to upscale 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. The other consortium members are: Inter Region Economic Network, Local Development Research Institute, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.  

With a billion people malnourished globally, 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, Prof. 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) 2010 and the 2014 Edinburgh International Science Festival Medal, all 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.

The professor of horticulture strongly believes there is renewed interest in African leafy vegetables. However she is concerned about 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.”

She explains that the most prevalent under-nutrition (micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger) problems are Iron deficiency anaemia and Vitamin A deficiency, while Iron deficiency anemia is prevalent in Kenya, with over 50% of the children under the age of five having this problem. Vitamin A deficiency is also widespread affecting over 60% of the children in Kenya. Low immunity-poor health caused by low consumption of vegetables also causes low immunity resulting in poor health.

On the other hand, over-nutrition is as a result of Kenyans eating large amounts of unhealthy fats, sugary, salt and processed foods as well as consumption of inadequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, leading to Obesity. About 30-40% of Kenyans are obese, and the epidemic is increasing at 40% every 10years and obesity enhances the incidence of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer and cardio-vascular disorders.

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.