The trade of traditional food items, particularly pulses, is enabling women in Namibia to run sustainable informal ventures in farming activities. 

Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils, and peas are commonly known and consumed types of pulses, according to the United Nations.

Pulses are visible at Kiito Silas’ counter at an open market in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Silas, who is 38 years of age, started selling pulses some years ago after struggling to secure formal employment.

“I lost my job and decided to try my luck selling traditional food items, and it has been an interesting journey,” said Silas.

According to Silas, the various traditional food items she sells are most loved by city dwellers yearning for traditional foods they grew up eating.

“Traditional food items such as dried beans and other nutritious leguminous plant seeds sell fast. Some people buy them because of nostalgia, and others for the nutritional value. We generate a substantial amount of money,” she said.

On a good day, Silas generates an average of N$300 to N$800.

Another perspective 

Silas is not the only one whose life has been impacted by selling pulses. Selma Shilongo, who has been selling pulses for years, managed to send her children to school with funds generated from the trade.

The trade is also growing due to its distinct continuity potential attributed to an established informal supply value chain.

“Although I do not groom or produce pulses, we have links with women based in rural Namibia who supply us with the stock. We then sell it in the city at a premium,” said Shilongo.

Complimentary, the trade of pulses is also seen as a one-of-a-kind opportunity that lends itself to all kinds of catering and hospitality establishments. Over the years, the traders and farmers also managed to establish market networks.

“Business people also buy from us. We established partnerships with some food outlets and eateries,” added Silas.

Moreover, the traders offer consumers a cultural model and recipes for healthy eating to increase their client base.

“When a client buys the product, I offer some tips on food preparation and preservation. I am adding the little value that clients come back for. That way I build clientele,” said Shilongo.

Meanwhile, through conservation agriculture, subsistence farmers who supply the pulses to the city traders see their hard work contributing to improving health in Namibia.

“It is about enhancing livelihoods through small-scale farming and participation in economic development. But also ensuring people eat organic and nutritious food in pulses,” said Hilde Tomas, a subsistence farmer in the northern part of Namibia.

Calle Schlettwein, minister of agriculture, has agreed that conservation agriculture continues to transform agricultural practices and overall food production.

“It enhances sustainable use and management of agriculture, water, and forestry resources, especially in the communal areas of our country,” he said.

According to the United Nations, for farmers, pulses are an important crop because they can sell, and consume them, maintain household food security, and create economic stability.

A global product

The global pulse value chain is complex, encompassing millions of small-scale farmers who produce for personal consumption and local markets. It also includes large-scale commercial farmers producing for export markets and food companies.  

The world’s largest pulse producers are India and Canada. Farmers continue to call for more support in areas of productivity, profitability, and sustainability and have improved in some areas thanks to agricultural extension programs, advanced seed technologies, public-private partnerships, and trade. 

- www.xinhuanet.com