CABI scientists are working in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) to multiply and bulk seeds of two new varieties of Kinale kale which were first investigated for possible production and registered as kale lines over 20 years ago.
Lucy Karanja and Duncan Chacha, from CABI’s Regional Centre for Africa in Nairobi, and their KALRO colleagues are leading efforts to reintroduce improved crop varieties for their resistance to pests and diseases, higher yields, and superior leaf quality.
The project will also strengthen local agribusiness by reviving seed systems, helping farmers access better markets, and laying the foundation for self-sustaining, locally led seed businesses that generate income and create jobs across the value chain.
Kinale kale, also known as Matharu, is a traditional and highly popular leafy vegetable widely grown and consumed in Kenya, especially in Mombasa, Nairobi, Central, and Eastern regions.
It is preferred for its large green leaves that are easy to cook and preferred by buyers, making it a staple in local diets and markets. The crop also matures within 90 days after transplanting and can be harvested several times before the need to plant again, giving higher yield than commercial kale varieties currently on the market.
Limited access to high-quality seeds
Despite its popularity, farmers face challenges in commercial cultivation due to limited access to high-quality seeds. Traditional Kinale kale is not readily available through local seed stockists, leading farmers to rely on cuttings for propagation. Over time, this practice has resulted in a genetically mixed crop in the field, causing inconsistent quality and reduced performance.
Ms Karanja, a researcher and Content Manager at CABI, said, “Reintroducing clean, improved seed lines will help restore genetic purity, enhance crop uniformity, and boost productivity, making the variety more viable for commercial production.”
To try and mitigate these challenges, CABI and KALRO, between 2003 and 2005, collaborated to improve Kinale kale by selecting superior plants from farmers’ fields in Kinale ward, Kiambu County. These plants were grown in screen houses and characterized into five improved lines named CABI 1 to CABI 5. Two of these lines showed outstanding qualities and were selected for seed production.
The new varieties of Kinale kale planted in a screenhouse at KALRO Oljororok.
The cleaned seeds were handed over to national partners for storage and use as a basic seed for multiplication and commercialization. Some were sent to an overseas gene bank for germplasm preservation.
But the project did not progress further until in 2023. Some of the original improved seeds were rediscovered and used to restart the project to revive good-quality Kinale kale seed bulking for production and availability for Kenyan farmers.
Agribusiness development with key goals
Mr Chacha, Scientist at CABI said, “Unfortunately, efforts to commercialize these improved seeds did not progress as planned, and the seed stock held by the local partner gradually lost its viability.
“However, between 2023 and 2024, we embarked on fresh seed production to ensure availability for planting this year.”
Dr Monica Kansiime, Deputy Director, Development and Outreach, Africa at CABI, said, “The renewed project focuses not only on restoring the idea of producing seed for this traditional vegetable but also on agribusiness development with key goals that include supporting low-income farmers to increase food production through affordable, practical and climate-resilient crop varieties.
“Recognizing the potential of local seed enterprises to enhance smallholder incomes, particularly for women and youth, this initiative will deliberately engage women- and youth-led groups in seed bulking activities, thereby generating targeted income-generating opportunities within the seed value chain.”
Ms Karanja said that although the new seed varieties have not been formally tested for pest or climate resilience, farmers who participated in the research trials reported fewer pest issues and more consistent performance under variable weather conditions.
In April 2025, the transplanting of CABI 1 and CABI 2 kale varieties was carried out at two test sites – KALRO Ol Joro Orok and Njabini ATC – and the next steps are to monitor plant health, growth rates, and varietal differences over the coming weeks.
Ultimately, the intention is to clean the seed and make it available for farmer-led seed bulking.
Additional information
Main image: Kale is a green, leafy, vegetable that is rich in nutrients and offer a range of health benefits (Credit: CABI).
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Acknowledgement
This project is implemented under the PlantwisePlus programme funded by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships (INTPA, EU); the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR); and the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China (MARA). It builds on the legacy of previous initiative funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) under its Crop Protection Programme (CPP).
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