Hyderabad: With climate change turning into a reality, food activists demand that crops like millets that require less water, less power and are rich in micro nutrients must be encouraged by the state government of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Food activists are upset that instead of indigenous grains, crops from South American shores like quinoa are being experimented with, which is not going to benefit the people.
Quinoa is being grown on an experimental basis in Anantapur and Visakhapatnam and is not being commercially exploited as the government claims that enough is not being produced.
But food activists wonder why the government is giving so much attention to a foreign grain. Research on quinoa is being carried out by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research to check its variability in agronomy and nutrition value.
P.V. Satheesh, director of Deccan Development Society said, “Why is money being wasted on a foreign grain? Instead, declare water bonus for millet farmers as they will use very little water to grow these grains. Millets like Bajra, Korra, Sama and Variga require very little water, less power and can be easily grown on dry soil. It is easy for farmers as their cost inputs are less. Giving them a water and power bonus will boost their morale and also bring more of these grains on the consumers’ plates.”
Research has shown that millets are rich in micronutrients, minerals and is low in fat. With less rains this year, food activists state that malnutrition will be another problem in the next few months and consumption of these grains will help to deal with it.
Food activists have compared quinoa with Indian millets and said that the latter competes with every nutrient present in it. Presently, imported quinoa is sold at Rs 1,600 per kg in the market while millets range from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 50 per kg.
Dr P. Janaki Srinath, senior consultant nutritionist said, “Quinoa has been marketed across the world as it is stated to be low on fat, high in proteins and essential amino acids with high amounts of antioxidants. But these are also available in our Indian millets, which also helps in reducing bad cholesterol and promotes good cholesterol. When we can get the same kind of micronutrients and also the same benefits from millets what is the need to bring in quinoa in our diet?”
At the same time, studied research is available which shows that millets protect against stroke, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and premature death. With so many benefits available, activists are upset that Indian consumers are once again being misled to believe in a “wonder food”.
Earlier it was oats, then soya and now quinoa. In 1965, Indians consumed 65 per cent millets and less of wheat and rice. But over the years, the equation has changed drastically.
Dr K. Manorama, principal scientist, Quality Control Lab at the Telangana State Agriculture University said, “The food habits have changed drastically and due to that we find early advent of diseases. In districts like Karimnagar, Guntur etc. people are taken in by filmstars who promote such products and want to ape them without realizing that it is hurting their pocket and is also not giving them any additional benefits, which their home-grown grains will not give. Also in the West, people eat most of these grains as porridge whereas Indians eat them as rotis, laddus or in some form with a gravy. Those traditional recipes make it tasty but we are now finding a lot of rural women who have difficulty cooking these grains which shows that we are losing out on our home foods.”
