AMARANTH NUTRITIVE MAGIC
The idea is about using Amaranth weed to provide nutrition for the rural population in Kenya and those living with HIV and AIDS virus. The weed grows widely during the rainy seasons and it usually sprouts up healthily around cow sheds which is a common site in Kenya's rural areas
First Name
SAMWEL BIWOTT
Last Name
BIKENS
Website
Organization
MOI UNIVERSITY
Country
Kenya
Organization Name
MOI UNIVERSITY
Organization Website
Organization Phone
+254 020 2141251
Organization Address
P.O BOX 1125, ELDORET
Is your organization a
Government
Organization Country
Kenya
Name Your Project
AMARANTH NUTRITIVE MAGIC
Country your work focuses on
Kenya
Describe Your Idea
The idea is about using Amaranth weed to provide nutrition for the rural population in Kenya and those living with HIV and AIDS virus. The weed grows widely during the rainy seasons and it usually sprouts up healthily around cow sheds which is a common site in Kenya's rural areas
Website URL
What makes your idea unique?
My idea is unique because it takes advantage of a weed to provide nutrition to the poor population who cannot afford refined food supplements that are sold in markets.Since the weed grows abundantly and naturally during wet seasons, then it means this source of proteins,vitamins and essential minerals provision will be sustainable in the long run as it can be preserved for use during periods of drought.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
No
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
I have encouraged the population of my rural area to utilize the weed for its high protein,vitamins and essential minerals value and showed them on how the weed can be used to produce nutritive flour that they can mix with their staple maize meal to add value to their food at absolutely no extra cost since the weed grows naturally.They can also use the leaves as a vegetable by cooking it or better still drying it for long period preservation to be used during dry seasons when the weed and other vegetables are rare.
Problem
The project faced huddles during the recent post elections violence when the population was displaced by the violence and they missed one wet season to harvest the weed.Besides this, the terrain of the area is rough requiring mechanized means to move from place to place.
Actions
My project is currently addressing the need to provide vitamin and essential minerals supplements to HIV infected persons in the rural areas of Nakuru District of Kenya. The Amaranth weed has proved to provide high value vitamins and essential minerals to this hurting group of the population who cannot afford to purchase processed and refined food supplements from the shops.
Moi university has provided funding and vehicles to ferry project extension personnel to the rural areas of Nakuru where the project is situated.
The institution is also partnering with a Indiana university sponsored HIV and AIDs management programme christened AMPATH to spread the use of the idea to help in health management of HIV and AIDs patients.
Results
Through the project, many people will be able to access affordable vitamins supplement and therefore improve generally the health of the entire population.The results can then be replicated to other parts of the country to enhance good health of the population.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
Year 1 - Information dissemination on the idea and planning of the programme
Year 2 - Weed harvesting and tests on large scale production of the weed
Year 3 - Project expansion and production.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Any political instability that will render the population insecure to live and invest in the technology.
How many people will your project serve annually?
More than 10,000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1‐5 years
In what country?
Kenya
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
MOI UNIVERSITY
How long has this organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
Yes
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Most of the organizations in the partnership seek to provide support to the population and therefore in one way or another will help in disseminating information about my innovation therefore improving its adaptation by people.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
For my initiative to grow, there should be sufficient funding to enable the initiative to be broadcasted widely to the population by way of advocacy. There should be support from the government in encouraging the use of the initiative as a source of proteins,vitamins and essential mineral supplement. The third is that there is need to have a mechanism whereby excess production can be harnessed to ensure sustainability of the project in the long run.
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
I come from a rural area where the population is very poor and ravaged by HIV and AIDS due to its proximity to the Great North Road which is an highway that runs across the African continent from South Africa to Egypt where long distant trailers and trucks drivers use as a stop-over for their overnight stay before proceeding with their journeys since there are numerous lodging facilities and good security for their trucks and loads.
Due to the suffering of the people and considering the aridness of the area i thought there should be a cheaper way of providing nutritive food to these hurting people and therefore the birth of the idea.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
I have close relatives infected and affected by the HIV and AIDS disease and i feel i am indebted to assist this poor and hurting community to live with hope and have the courage to face the future.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Through another organization or company
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
Nation Media Group through their Daily Nation newspaper
 | mst fms said: Thank you very much for this information. Good post thanks for sharing. I like this site ;) ----------- ps3 oyun satış ps3 oyun ... about this idea. - 19 days ago read more > |
 | SAMWEL BIKENS updated this idea. - 70 days ago. |
| SAMWEL BIKENS updated this idea. - 71 days ago. |
| SAMWEL BIKENS said: Dear Hanan, Thanks for your comments. My project is innovative because, it takes advantage of a naturally growing weed to provide ... about this idea. - 83 days ago read more > |
| Hanan Nassau said: Dear Samwel, Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful responses to my and Rubina Khan's inquiries. It certainly is interesting and ... about this idea. - 84 days ago read more > |
 | Lanna Gerline Millien added this idea to their favorites. - 86 days ago. |
| SAMWEL BIKENS said: Thanks Rubina! I register my appreciation for your interests in my concept. The project has been running for the past few years, and ... about this idea. - 90 days ago read more > |
| Rubina Khan said: Great work! I was particularly interested in your response to Hanan Nassau. You provided a lot of detail on the nutritional value of ... about this idea. - 91 days ago read more > |
| SAMWEL BIKENS updated this idea. - 92 days ago. |
| SAMWEL BIKENS updated this idea. - 92 days ago. |
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