ABANYALA BA KAKAMEGA

 

Indegenous Varieties of Common Food Crops.

Abanyala ba Kakamega have names for various varieties of comon food crops they greatly used. The following are some of the varieties of the food crops.

1. VARIETIES OF MAIZE
There are different types of maize categorized based on the colour and number of lines on the maize cob. the following are the main types.
  1. Amatumwa- general name for maize.
  2. Emoti- maize variety that is purple-black. 
  3. Emwo- this was maize that was hybrid seed. The word emwo related closely to the term GMO.
  4. Enyiru (Namba nane)- this has big seeds and eight lines on the maize cob. 
  5. Nakhalooli- a variety of maize that has a mix of many colours. 
  6. Nasimia- this is white maize that has many lines on the cob.
  7. Opapari- it is maize variety that has mix of two colours. 
  8. Sipindi- this is the yellow maize variety. 
  9. Tulatula- this is the pop corn maize. 


2. VARIETIES OF SORGHUM
  1. Amabere- this is the general term for soghum 
  2. Namukuku- they open up like star grass.
  3. Nabakhaana- for the shorter varieties
  4. Nafumo-
  5. Nakhatamba
  6. Nakhuumba
  7. Naliisi
3. VARIETIES OF MILLET
Classiffied basing on the shape if the fruit on the stem and the colour. 
  1. Owule- this is the general term for millet.
  2. Owule Naabaye- it has finger-like ends that upened up upon maturity 
  3. Owule Namaala- it has finger-like ends that bend into fist like structure.
  4. Owule Owulafu- this ranged between yellow and brown.
  5. Owule Owung'enda- usually brown or red coloured
  6. Owule Owopole- grey or black coloured. This was the most common type.
  7. M
4. VARIETIES OF POTATOES
  1. Amachuku- air potato.
  2. Eseebe- 
  3. Ngwachi
  4. Marawoko
  5. Mulambo
  6. Naliisi
  7. Njiake
  8. Mulambo- has pink covers and white flesh.
  9. Mweyu
  10. Nanduma- has purple flesh. 
  11. Sichunju- has narrow leaves
5. VARIETIE OF BANANAS
  1. Amakhaamba- seeded banana. 
  2. Amalimi
  3. Amanyala
  4. Banaania
  5. Bokoboko
  6. Namala
  7. Namukhira kwa'ngwe
  8. Nasichembe
  9. Switi
6. VARIETIES OF CASSAVA
  1. Luteru-tu
  2. Makana 
  3. Nakomola 
  4. Serere
  5. Sifurosa
7. VARIETIES OF BEANS
  1. Amakanda- a general name for beans. 
  2. Ebing'oling'oli
  3. Lipala- Rosecoco varieties 
  4. Nakhatabo
  5. Nakholo
  6. Nang'oli
  7. Namaito
  8. Nasikokhe
  9. Sapela
8. VARIETIES OF MUSHROOM
  1. Owoba- general name for mushroom.
  2. Khasokhere
  3. Owuchalamachi
  4. Owuchofuma
  5. Owukochwe
  6. Owusiina- This is the white mushroom that grows in cattle compost. Owusina comes with white heads, white bottoms and white stocks. The underside is white. 

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