AGRICULTURE
16-06-2021 by Leni Frau
The semi-arid and troubled Kenyan region of Turkana could provide a livelihood for its communities by producing products from the Aloe turkanensis plant.
Aloe is a very hardy plant that is less affected by the lack of continuous rainfall, as has unfortunately been the case in the far north of Kenya in recent years.
After the village of Nalapatui, in West Turkana, showed that it is possible to start plantations of Aloe and especially of a quality called Aloe Turkanensis, the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) with some international partners, implemented the collaboration with other local communities for the production of solid and liquid soap, gel and shampoo.
Through the production of the various products, the members of the Nalapatui Community Group have been able to earn a living by selling the products in the markets of Kalobeyei, Lokichogio and Kakuma, frontier locations frequented by traders from outside Kenya.
A solid bar of soap sells for Ksh 50, while half a litre and a litre of soap and shampoo sell for Ksh 100 and Ksh 200 respectively.
According to one of the proponents of the Aloe operation in Turkana, the local people are learning to know and appreciate the healing qualities of the plant and for the same price they prefer to buy Aloe produced in their own region.
Another organisation, "Turkana Bio Aloe", has been set up in Kalemngorok, which also deals in Aloe resin and "gum", selling it at Ksh. 10 per kilo. Lately, it has converted part of its production to hand disinfectants and detergents.
The hope of the Turkana people, who have suffered from drought that has killed thousands of cattle and are always in the grip of banditry, is to be able to convert part of their livelihood economy to agriculture, relying on resources such as aloe vera.
With the proceeds of the sale, the two communities have been able to reopen businesses, small kiosks and buy cattle and sheep.
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