In many tropical countries there are dry and rainy seasons. In the rainy season, everything blossoms and flourishes, and there is an abundant supply of wild vegetables. At the same time, however, stocks of staple foods are often depleted. In the dry season, it is often the other way round: staple foods such as maize or millet are available because the last harvest was not long ago, but hardly any vegetables grow due to the drought. Therefore, they have to be bought, which poor people often cannot afford. For this reason, the diet of many people in Tanzania consists mainly of maize polenta with beans and tomatoes for long periods of the year, which leads to nutritional deficiencies in the long run.
The solution to this is perennial drought-resistant vegetable plants. On our farm, we have four species that are simultaneously among the most nutrient-dense vegetable crops in the world, and are an excellent sustainable solution to malnutrition in the humid tropics: Katuk, Chaya, Leaf Manioc and Moringa. All are perennial, drought-resistant, very nutritious (comparable to fruits), and can be used not only as vegetables but also as livestock feed. Unfortunately, they are still relatively unknown in Tanzania (except for leaf manioc), and we are trying to bring these gifts of God and their many benefits more to the people.
