Kenya’s amaranth and finger millet have been selected as priority crops for conservation, inclusion, and value-chain development under the newly launched Power of Diversity Funding Facility (PDFF) initiative.
Launched in late August 2025, the PDFF is spearheaded by the Crop Trust and is backed by financial support from the Governments of Ireland and Germany.
The initiative targets two historically neglected but nutritionally rich crops, aiming to safeguard their genetic diversity, boost their long-term sustainable use, and enhance farmers’ livelihoods.
Speaking at the selection forum, Edwin Garzón-Horta, PDFF Project Specialist, highlighted that the crops were chosen after a comprehensive two-day national consultation and gap-analysis process involving a shortlist of 43 “opportunity crops.”
The focus on these two, he explained, was driven by their excellent nutritional value, adaptability to local growing conditions, and strong potential to enhance farmers’ resilience.
For Kenya, this marks a strategic shift from over-reliance on staples like maize, wheat, and rice—choices that have gradually narrowed the country’s food base and made agricultural systems more susceptible to climate shocks and market volatility.
Recent estimates suggest that in just a decade, over 40% of food plants and their wild relatives have disappeared from at least one area where they were historically cultivated—an alarming loss threatening global food security.
Underutilization of amaranth and finger millet persists largely due to limited research, weak breeding programs, poor seed systems, and insufficient market linkages, despite their rich nutritional profiles.
Finger millet is notably high in calcium, iron, and dietary fiber—making it ideal for addressing malnutrition—while amaranth leaves are rich in vitamins A and C, and the grains deliver high-quality protein.
According to Peterson Wambugu of the Genetic Resources Research Institute (GeRRI), these crops are “attractive both nutritionally and economically,” especially given their strong value-addition potential.
Beyond their intrinsic value, the market potential for these traditional crops is also growing. Although consumption has largely been confined to rural households and older generations, urban demand is rising—driven by health-conscious consumers seeking indigenous, nutrient-dense alternatives amid growing lifestyle diseases.
Supermarkets, health stores, and even restaurants are beginning to stock and showcase amaranth and finger millet, signaling a broader shift toward embracing healthier, locally rooted foods.
Voices from the field underscore the crops’ transformative potential. Evalyne Okoth, a farmer from Kisumu, pointed out that finger millet’s resilience against pests and erratic rainfall makes it a safer alternative to the increasingly unreliable maize.
Additionally, she noted its nutritional and economic promise, particularly for women and youth, who play key roles across the value chain from production to processing.
Kenya’s intensified focus on these crops also aims to reduce dependency on food imports. As the country struggles with becoming a net importer of maize, promotion of homegrown, climate-smart alternatives like finger millet and amaranth could help restore dietary diversity and national food sovereignty.
The PDFF initiative will be rolled out in collaboration with Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, alongside Kenya’s Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), to ensure coordinated efforts in research, conservation, and scaling up value chains.
