The Surprising Plant Helping Kenyan Farmers Prosper

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] According to the UN, Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change, due to it's poverty levels, scarce water sources, and rain-fed farmland. Farmers here in Kenya are being forced to look for new, more drought-resistant options to grow when traditional crops fail. This is where sisal comes in. Sisal is built for harsher climates. Under it's green exterior are strong fibers that are useful in making all sorts of things. There's just one problem. This was Alex's first invention. It can strip sisal fibers in seconds. These fibers can be sold for 20 shillings per kilo. But this wasn't enough for Alex. This machine turns the fibers into rope, which adds value of almost 180%. The rope can be used to make a variety of items, like bags and mats. (upbeat music)

Channel: Great Big Story

Views: 2,795,326

Keywords: great big story, gbs, lag, documentary, docs, Farmers, Invention, Agriculture, Africa, community, Nature & Animals, Lifestyle & Entertainment, Biography & Profile, Dangote, Alex Odundo

Id: EGM6He40Wlc

Length: 3min 1sec (181 seconds)

Published: Mon Dec 18 2017