FINGER MILLET

Other name : Ragi

Eleusine coracana

• Nutrient: Finger millet is rich in calcium, dietary fiber, essential amino acids, and antioxidants, contributing to bone health, digestive wellness, and overall immunity.

• Soil health: Finger millet improves soil health by enhancing organic carbon content, preventing hillside erosion through dense fibrous roots, and thriving with low chemical inputs

• Environment: Finger millet provides major environmental benefits by offering drought tolerance, a low carbon footprint, and minimal chemical input needs

AFRICAN LOCUST BEAN

Parkia biglobosa

• Nutrient: African locust beans commonly known as dawadawa or iru, provide exceptional nutritional value including blood sugar control, improved digestion, and rich antioxidant support.

• Soil health: The African locust bean tree improves soil by fixing nitrogen, adding organic matter, and preventing erosion.

• Environment: The African locust bean tree (Parkia biglobosa) enhance soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, preventing desertification via deep root systems, and supporting savanna biodiversity.

MORINGA

Moringa oleifera

• Nutrient: Moringa has 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium than milk, 9 times more protein than yoghurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times more iron than spinach

• Soil health: Moringa improves soil health by boosting fertility, preventing erosion, and retaining moisture. It adds vital nutrients, supports helpful microbes, and acts as an organic fertilizer when used as mulch.

• Environment: Moringa is a resilient crop, known for its high seed yield and superior CO2 sequestration. Moringa trees provide vital environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, soil regeneration, and natural water purification.

BAMBARA BEAN

Other name: Bambara groundnut

Vigna subterranea

• Nutrient: Bambara beans provide rich health benefits driven by high protein, dietary fiber, and essential minerals like iron and potassium. They support muscle growth, improve digestion, and help manage blood sugar levels.

• Soil health: Bambara groundnuts benefit soil health through nitrogen fixation, fertility enhancement in poor land, and reduced need for chemical fertilizers.

• Environment: bambara beans are climate-resilient, improve natural soil via nitrogen fixation, and high productivity on marginal or degraded soils. These properties make them a sustainable crop for low-input agricultural systems.

PIGEON PEA

Other names: Toor dal; Gungo peas

Cajanus cajan

• Nutrient: Pigeon peas are nutritious legume that supports heart health, digestion, immunity, and weight management.

• Soil health: Pigeon peas improve soil through nitrogen fixation, deep root aeration, and organic matter enrichment. These key benefits boost fertility, prevent erosion, and enhance moisture retention.

• Environment: Pigeon pea offers natural soil enrichment, erosion control, and high climate resilience. This versatile plant supports sustainable farming by reducing the need for chemical inputs while thriving in harsh conditions.

RED & WHITE SORREL

Hibiscus sabdariffa

• Nutrient: Red and white sorrel (often referring to the vibrant red calyces of Jamaican sorrel/hibiscus or red-veined leafy sorrel) provides powerful immune support, improved digestion, and rich antioxidant protection. It is packed with vitamin C, magnesium, and plant compounds that reduce inflammation

• Soil health: Sorrel plants adapt to various soil textures from loose sand to heavy clay, it relies heavily on proper soil health features for survival and growth.

• Environment: Roselle provides key environmental benefits through low water requirements. It thrives in warm climates with minimal irrigation.

OKRA

Abelmoschus esculentus

• Nutrient: Okra helps supporting blood sugar regulation, improved digestion, and enhanced heart health. It is rich in essential nutrients like vitamins C and K, dietary fiber, and antioxidants.

• Soil health: Growing okra can also help improve garden soil through deep root aeration, natural shade coverage, and organic matter contribution.

• Environment: Okra provides key environmental benefits through climate resilience, water purification, and sustainable industrial uses. It thrives under high heat and drought, removes microplastics from water via its natural mucilage, and serves as an eco-friendly bio-lubricant. Integrates well into crop models to support carbon storage and soil health.

AFRICAN EGGPLANT

Solanum aethiopicum

• Nutrient: African eggplant offers health benefits, including improved digestion, better blood sugar control, and enhanced heart health. Also known as the garden egg, this nutrient-dense vegetable is packed with dietary fiber, potassium, and antioxidants

• Soil health: Frequently grown by smallholder farmers, it supports low-intensity cultivation practices that preserve local soil health and pollinator activity.

• Environment: Certain cultivars show strong adaptability and resilience against adverse conditions like drought, high heat, and poor soils compared to conventional commercial crops.

AMARANTH LEAVES

Amaranthus spp.

• Nutrient: Amaranth leaves are a nutrient-dense superfood providing high amounts of vitamins A, C, and K, iron, and plant-based protein. These vibrant greens support overall wellness by improving digestion, strengthening bones, and helping manage anemia.

• Soil health: Amaranth improves soil health through carbon sequestration, thrives in low-fertility marginal lands, and utilizes a deep root system to break up compacted earth and scavenge deep-set nutrients.

• Environment: Amaranth is a drought resistance crop with high photosynthetic efficiency, and soil adaptability. It offers a resilient food source when traditional staples fail under extreme weather conditions.

SESAME

Sesamum indicum

• Nutrient: Sesame seeds offer powerful health benefits, including heart support, bone strength, and blood sugar management. Packed with healthy fats, plant protein, and unique antioxidants called lignans, these tiny seeds deliver big nutrition when eaten regularly

• Soil health: Growing sesame improves soil health by reducing root-knot nematodes, scavenging deep soil nutrients via taproots, and adding beneficial organic residues

• Soil health: Sesame is a climate-smart crop that thrives in drought conditions, requires minimal water inputs, and prevents soil degradation in dry regions.

COUNTRY POTATO

Other names: Hausa, Frafra, or Chinese potatoes

Plectranthus rotundifolius

• Nutrient: Country potatoes provide high levels of starch and energy, essential minerals like potassium and magnesium, and beneficial antioxidant phytochemicals.

• Soil health: Potatoes break up dense earth, encourage beneficial organisms, and fit well into regenerative crop rotation cycles.

• Environment: Country potatoes use less water, require less land, and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than many other staple crops

LIVINGSTONE POTATO

Plectranthus esculentus

• Nutrient: The Livingstone potato offers rich nutritional value, potential anti-diabetic properties, and traditional digestive relief. It provides high amounts of dietary fiber, protein, and essential minerals like iron and calcium.

• Soil health: Livingstone potatoes thrive in marginal lands, require low chemical inputs, and adapt well to challenging environments without exhausting heavy soil amendments.

• Environment: The Livingstone potato is good for the environment because it is a resilient native crop that requires fewer artificial inputs, thrives in poor soils, and promotes agricultural diversity