by Ndalimpinga Iita

WINDHOEK, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The trade of traditional food items, particularly pulses, is enabling women in Namibia to run sustainable informal ventures. Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses, according to the United Nations.

Pulses are visible at Kiito Silas' counter at an open market in Windhoek, capital of Namibia. Silas, 36, started selling pulses early this year after struggling to secure formal employment.

"I lost my job last year. I decided to try my luck selling traditional food items, and it has been an interesting journey," Silas said.

According to Silas, the various traditional food items she sells are most loved by city dwellers yearning for traditional foods they grew up eating.

"Traditional food items such as dried beans and other nutritious leguminous plants seeds sell fast. Some people buy them because of nostalgia, and others for the nutritional value. We generate a substantial amount of money," she said.

On a good day, Silas generates an average of 300 Namibian dollars (about 20 U.S. dollars) to 800 Namibian dollars.

She is not the only one. For Selma Shilongo, who has been selling pulses for more than three years, managed to send her children to school with funds generated from the trade.

The trade is also growing due to its distinct continuity potential attributed to an established informal supply value chain.

"Although I do not groom or produce pulses, we have links with women based in the rural Namibia who supply us with the stock. We then sell it in the city at a premium," Shilongo said.

Complimentary, the trade of pulses is also seen as a one-of-a-kind opportunity that lends itself to all kinds of catering and hospitality establishments. Over the years, the traders and farmers also managed to establish market networks.

"Business people also buy from us. We established partnerships with some food outlets and eateries," added Silas.

Moreover, the traders offer consumers a cultural model and recipes for healthy eating to increase their client base.

"When a client buys the product, I offer some tips on food preparation and preservation. I am adding the little value that clients come back for. That way I build clientele," Shilongo said.

Meanwhile, through conservation agriculture, subsistence farmers who supply the pulses to the city traders see their hard work contributing to improving health in Namibia.

"It's about enhancing livelihoods through small-scale farming and participate in economic development. But also ensuring people eat organic and nutritious food in pulses," said Hilde Tomas, a subsistence farmer in the northern part of Namibia.

Calle Schlettwein, minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, said that conservation agriculture aims to transform agricultural practices production.

"As well as enhancing sustainable use and management of agriculture, water and forestry resources, especially in the communal areas of our country," he said.

According to the United Nations, for farmers, pulses are an important crop because they can sell them, consume them, maintain household food security, and create economic stability. Enditem

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