Ndengu ‘to be made cash crop’

The popular mung bean, commonly known as “ndengu”, may soon have the same status in law as tea , coffee and other cash crops if a Bill at the Senate passes.

The 2020 Mung Beans Bill seeks to elevate the plant that thrives in semi-arid areas to cash crop status, according to its drafter and Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua.

It seeks to have mung bean farmers register themselves with their county governments.

A register of the farmers will be kept by the Food and Agriculture Authority.

The bill prescribes mandatory registration for those who market, process or trade in the bean.

“Kenya produces a lot of ndengu. Unfortunately, only middlemen benefit,” Mr Wambua said.

“A kilo of mung beans sells for Sh250 to Sh260 at the supermarket yet the stores buy the same for Sh15 to Sh20. They also export a lot of it.”