Kaffir potato facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kaffir potato |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Coleus
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| Species: |
esculentus
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Coleus esculentus, also called the Kaffir potato or Livingstone potato, is a plant in the mint family. It grows naturally in Africa. People there grow it for its tasty underground parts called tubers. These tubers are like potatoes.
This plant is a bit harder to grow than another similar plant, Coleus rotundifolius. However, it can produce much more food. Even though it's from the mint family, not the potato family, it's very healthy and useful. This crop helps many farmers who grow food for themselves and their families. It's native to Africa, easy to grow, becoming popular, and very nutritious.
Contents
About the Livingstone Potato
This plant is a perennial dicot herb, meaning it lives for many years and has two seed leaves. It belongs to the mint family. It can grow quite tall, up to 2 metres (about 6.5 feet). Some branches near the bottom bend down and grow into the soil. These branches then form oblong tubers. Tubers are fleshy underground stems.
These tubers are edible and full of nutrients. People often eat them instead of potatoes or sweet potatoes. The plant also has yellow flowers, but they are rarely seen. This is because the plant mostly reproduces using its underground parts. The flowers have two lips and grow on short, crowded branches. When the plant is flowering, its stems lose their leaves. Coleus esculentus has thick, fleshy leaves on stems that have angles. The leaves have tiny brown dots underneath and jagged edges. The tubers are very important because they are sold and traded among farmers.
History and Where It Grows
Coleus esculentus is native to southern tropical Africa. It was first grown in the Upper Niger valley in Nigeria and in the Central African Republic. Over time, another crop called cassava became more popular. Cassava was brought to Africa from South America by the Portuguese about 500 years ago. This caused less Coleus esculentus to be grown.
Even though it's sometimes called a "lost crop" of Africa, it has been grown since ancient times. It is still important today. For a while, people didn't think highly of this native crop, which reduced how much was grown. But now, that view is changing. People are starting to grow it for sale in African markets. In French, this crop is called pomme de terre d’Afrique. In the Hausa language, it is known as rizga.
How to Grow It
The tubers are the most useful part of Coleus esculentus for people. They are nutritious, easy to grow, and becoming easier to sell. The tubers can stay alive underground even if the plant's leaves don't grow. Coleus esculentus can grow well in many different environments. However, it grows best in places where it has been grown for a long time, like Southern Africa. People who are trained in a community can manage growing C. esculentus with little extra help.
Farmers have planted the tubers in small areas, about 10 by 10 meters. They sometimes plant them between young eucalyptus trees. They also use a mixed cropping system. This means they grow other vegetables like amaranthus and cucurbits alongside them. They have also tried growing it with maize, but this didn't work well. The amount of food harvested was lower when grown with maize.
Some cultivated tubers can weigh up to 1.8 kg (about 4 pounds). Farmers have reported harvesting 2 to 6 tonnes of tubers per hectare. If the leaves are also harvested, yields of 70 tons per hectare have been recorded. The leaves were picked every two weeks for six weeks. How much food the plant produces depends on the weather and soil types. So, these things are important to consider.
Growing Conditions
This plant is grown from its tubers or small bulbils. The tubers are planted in the spring. You can then harvest them the following autumn. Coleus esculentus can be harvested 180 to 200 days after it is planted. The best soil for this tuber has a pH of 6.5-7. It also needs about 700–1100 mm (27-43 inches) of rain each year. The ideal amount of daylight for the tubers is between 12.5 and 13 hours. C. esculentus is very tough and grows easily in places without frost.
What It's Used For
The tubers of Coleus esculentus are often used like potatoes or sweet potatoes. Right after they are harvested, you can boil or roast them. The stems have been used to make porridge sweeter. The leaves can also be cooked in sauces. People have said that C. esculentus can help with tummy problems. It has also been used to treat stomach aches and other health issues.
Nutritional Information
The fleshy underground stems, or tubers, are the part of the plant that people eat. This tuber crop is thought to be better than other tuber crops for its food value. In 100 grams of the tuber, there is:
- Total carbohydrates: 80 g
- Crude protein level: 13 g
- Total lipids (fats): 0.6 g
- Calcium: 140 mg
- Iron: 50 mg
- Vitamin A: 0.17 mg
It is rich in carbohydrates, vitamin A, minerals, and important amino acids. Coleus esculentus has greatly helped the diets of people in rural areas.
Economics
In 2001-2002, farmers could sell 250 grams of this crop for up to 5 rand (about US$1). This was more than the price of an Irish potato. Communities can also sell the cooked leaves for 7 rand (about US$1.30). There is a demand for Coleus esculentus for cash. However, it is often shared between neighbors and friends.
Social and Cultural Importance
Women in these communities know a lot about this crop. They understand its nutritional value and how to grow it. This is a big help for farmers. They already have the knowledge to grow this crop. This gives them a good chance to succeed from their very first harvest.
