The ingenuity of sustainably packaging Fante Kenkey

Largely in Ghana 'KENKEY' is wrapped in corn husk and then sold. However these days, the wrapped Kenkey is further out in plain or black polyethylene rubber for various reasons. How this type of packaging came about who can tell but I tell you that it is one very great way of packaging probably invented by our forefathers. 

Well we know farming is one very important occupation in the world that needs energy especially when it comes to weeding your farm with hoe and cutlass.

Kenkey: It is a food made from corn dough which is just like 'akple or banku' but the cooking procedure is different. With Kenkey the dough is half cooked before wrapped in corn husks and then steamed to cook. A fermented taste is the major characteristic of Kenkey that makes it unique.

Let's discuss a few things about how Fante Kenkey is packaged.

Fante Kenkey made largely in Kumasi of Ghana is a unique type of Kenkey eating with stew, soup or mashed. It comes in Twi differences where one has added sugar purposely for those who enjoy mashed Kenkey and the other with only salt.

The packaging

It is wrapped in banana or plantain leaves basically. Even with this type of packaging, the food is able to stay for days before going bad. First of all the Kenkey is cooked very well with the knowledge that it will be kept for quite long. Also transportation is taken into consideration to ensure the food is safe even when it travels a long distance.

The women make sure to wrap the Kenkey in quite some plenty of the leaves to ensure every part is thoroughly covered against any threat to the foods safely.

What some consumers do talk about is how after buying the Kenkey they realize the actual food is small but the leaves make it look big.

Wrapped  Fante Kenkey 

Consumers say their mind concerning the size of the actual food but have they thought about the sustainability of this packaging?

When it comes to biodegradability of the package that is checked correct. However another school of though could say where will the banana or plantain leaves be sourced from so that the demand does not become a burden for farmers to cut the leaves even when the crops are still alive.

Elsewhere in the Volta Region where two particular local food know as 'egble' and 'campher' are also packaged in cassava leaves and a unique leaf respectively. This moves which make path to sustainability pose vital lessons for consumers and even producers. 

How do you feel eating in a leaf knowing that even if you discard the container which in this case is leaf you have helped the earth and not threatening the earth in anyway.

With a mindset of starting small in your own corner to become a change maker, let your love for nature steer you to always do the appropriate things that help our environment.