Fruit Tree Portfolios for Improved Diets and Nutrition in Machakos County Kenya
1ZaY0WP
1ZaY0WP
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Waterberry<br />
(Syzygium cum<strong>in</strong>ii)<br />
Mzambarau (Swahili)<br />
© www.p<strong>in</strong>terest.com<br />
© ICRAF/Katja Kehlenbeck<br />
Waterberry is a medium to large-sized tree with dense foliage, grow<strong>in</strong>g to a height of up to 30<br />
m. There are several species of waterberry <strong>in</strong> <strong>Kenya</strong>, some of them are <strong>in</strong>digenous. Waterberry<br />
grows well <strong>in</strong> the lowl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> midl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> can withst<strong>and</strong> flood<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> droughts. It is a fastgrow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
tree, which can easily be established from seeds. The fruits are sweetish-sour <strong>in</strong> taste<br />
<strong>and</strong> are ma<strong>in</strong>ly eaten fresh, but they are also suitable <strong>for</strong> juice <strong>and</strong> jam mak<strong>in</strong>g. In <strong>Machakos</strong> area,<br />
waterberry fruits are ready <strong>for</strong> harvest <strong>in</strong> March.<br />
Nutrients are the nutritious components <strong>in</strong> foods that the body needs to grow strong <strong>and</strong> healthy.<br />
A diverse <strong>and</strong> balanced diet conta<strong>in</strong>s a range of nutrients, all of which play an important part <strong>in</strong><br />
keep<strong>in</strong>g our bodies healthy. Waterberry is rich <strong>in</strong> vitam<strong>in</strong> A <strong>and</strong> iron.<br />
Vitam<strong>in</strong> A is important <strong>for</strong> good vision <strong>and</strong> a healthy immune system.<br />
Iron <strong>in</strong>creases the quality of blood.<br />
In<strong>for</strong>mation brochure developed by Katja Kehlenbeck <strong>and</strong> Stepha McMull<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Fruit</strong><strong>in</strong>g Africa project implemented by the World Agro<strong>for</strong>estry Centre (ICRAF)<br />
<strong>and</strong> funded by the European Commission <strong>and</strong> IFAD<br />
Version: June 2015<br />
www.worldagro<strong>for</strong>estry.org
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