There is need to celebrate milestones including the small steps we make that affect us individually. This is to say that when we kick out a bad habit that is reason to celebrate, when we make time to meet up with a friend after a long time, that is a great milestone to celebrate and when it comes to making specific lifestyle changes, now this is a great one to celebrate. After all, it is the great Chinese proverb that has motivated many people across the world to make a step at a time, because the journey of a thousand miles, begins with one step.
But back to celebrations. One of the countries that makes a celebration out of everything is America. From a day to celebrate pancakes, to others where you wear your spouses’ shoes and even a very interesting one which celebrates the eating of herbs and reducing of salt. Why this is interesting for us at the Optiven Group is because we intend to kick off a new project targeting to deliver quality herbs to the market. In America, the More Herbs, Less Salt Day promotes use of healthy herbs over salts. According to observers of the day, the day is observed the 29th of every August since 2014. The date coincides with the harvest of garden herbs in this part of the hemisphere. Culinary experts continue to advocate for the use of herbal remedies amidst rising cases of drug mismanagement as well as decreasing immunity for the youth who at times misuse pharmaceutical drugs.
But that not withstanding, we have all heard the adage that you are what you eat. The question then begs, do herbs really heal? It has become increasingly common for the health conscious among us to use mild remedies for minor health problems and save the more potent—and risky—prescription medications for more serious conditions. On a daily basis, herbs such as chamomile has been used for centuries as a gentle calmative for young and old alike as a sleep-inducing therapy for those affected by insomnia. Peppermint oil on the other hand has been shown to be effective in relieving irritable bowel syndrome, while ginger has been used to relieve morning sickness, among many others.
As a great way to celebrate the American holiday of More Herbs Less Salt, the Optiven Group through it’s K-Farm project has kickstarted a new initiative that will focus on growth of herbs. The project to be carried out in Ngatataek of Kajiado County has already seen a number of farmers in the area benefiting from farming of chilies and basil. Under the new project, the herbs are expected to leverage the market prices for the produce and advise the way forward for our investors who wish to engage in farming at the project.
Like any investment, we are keen to ensure that the information we share with our investors has been tried and tested. Thus the beginning of this project will see the Optiven Group facilitating the planting of basil, chives and garlic among other herbs on a trial basis. Already, the Optiven Group through it’s K-Farm subsidiary has engaged with agronomists from leading agricultural organizations to ensure that the best inputs, apparatus and technological know how is applied to make the project a success. With the roll out of this project this August, Optiven investors at the Ngatataek project are well on their way to make strides as they make the first step of a thousand miles in their intent to add value to their lives.
Happy More Herbs, Less Salt Day… Let us talk about the salt in future!
Above: Mr. George Wachiuri, the Chief Executive at Optiven Group planting a tree at Ngatataek project.
