Amaranth (amaranthus) is a cosmopolitan weed, spread all over the world from the tropics to temperate areas such as Japan and Western Europe. It has green or red leaves and branched flower stalks, which bear small seeds that vary in colour-from cream to gold and pink to shiny black.
The crop is tolerant to harsh climatic conditions and is an important source of food in many African countries-from Senegal to Ethiopia, East to South Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.

Varieties

There are about 60 species of Amaranths. However, only a few are eaten, while the rest are considered weeds. Some of the most commonly consumed amaranths are light green, dark green, red or purple in colour. The choice of variety by different communities is dictated by availability and preference for leaf colour and taste.
In Africa, amaranth species are collected from the wild for subsistence (or sale in the local markets), while only few are cultivated or occur as protected weeds in backyards (Stallknecht and Schulz-Schaeffer, 1993; Ouma; Keller, 2004).

Uses

Amaranth is mostly used as a leafy vegetable. The leaves can either be cooked alone or combined with other local vegetables such as spider plant and pumpkins. The leaves are rich in calcium, iron and vitamins A, B and C (Stallknecht and Schulz-Schaeffer, 1993).
Its consumption is reported to reduce fever, hemorrhage, anemia, kidney complaints, inflammations, lung disorders, boils and abscesses.
The leaves are also used as fodder.

Amaranth seeds, which are eaten as cereals can be popped like popcorn, germinated into nutritious sprouts or ground into flour.
This flour is used to cook porridge.

Amaranths in East Africa

Amaranth is cultivated in Kenya, Uganda and Central Africa (Cameroon). It is locally known as the pig weed or: Mchicha (Swahili), terere (Kikuyu), lidodo (Luhya), ododo (Luo), kelichot (Kipsigis), w'oa (Kamba), emboga (Kisii), kichanya (Taita) and doodo (Luganda)

Amaranth is a low management crop, which can grow in poor soils. However, application of organic fertilizer can increase yields. It is suited to hot temperatures (22-30°C). After germination, it can tolerate drought and is adapted to low humidity (Bruce French, EcoPort).

Some of the common pests that affect amaranths are cutworms, aphids, flea beetles, mites caterpillars, leafminers and leafrollers.

FCI has been educating farmers within the region on the nutritional and economic potential of this crop. Among other things, farmers have also been trained on effective, yet affordable pest control methods such as covering the beds with a fine screen or nylon mesh netting