  |
 |
|
|
|
|
QUICKFIND | |
|
Why grain
amaranth for Zimbabwe:
In sub-Saharan Africa, about 200 million people are hungry while 40 % of the total population suffer from “hidden hunger” i.e. the deficiencies in proteins, iron, vitamins, zinc and other nutrients. Thus the burden of hunger occurs at two levels in rural Africa; energy deficiencies, and specific nutrient deficiencies. Stunting and underweight in children is a key indicator of these deficiencies. The economic implication of this malnutrition burden has been estimated to stand at 5 and 17% decline in productivity for each of the two deficiencies. In addition, both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank have estimated that between 18- 25% of the developing countries burden of child disease is caused by under nutrition. The relative risk of infection has been shown to increase exponentially as stunting prevalence increases. On the basis of findings from a number of studies on the effect of vitamins supplementation in vitamin deficient households, mortality in pre-school children and pregnant women fell by 27 and 40 % respectively while Malaria attacks decreased by 30%. The scourge of HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa is unprecedented. Millions of people are HIV positive and many of these die every year despite the fact that in developed countries prognosis for HIV/AIDS infected individuals has shifted positively. This is believed to be partly because of good nutrition and low disease burden. Research has shown that there is more HIV related deaths among the poor who cannot afford nutritious food. Malnourished individuals are more prone to infections than their better-nourished counterparts. The link between HIV/Aids and poverty is real. African diets are generally poor in protein, vitamins and minerals. Many communities in Africa have a very high load of internal parasites that keep their immune systems perpetually overworked and weak. Some of these parasites are in direct competition for food with the host. This worsens the nutritional position of the affected individual causing malnutrition even though the host may be getting sufficient food. Parasites trigger production of antibodies, a process which itself uses a lot of available proteins thereby compromising the nutritional status of the individual. In Sub-Saharan Africa the HIV prevalence ranges between 25 to 37% in childbearing age. This has resulted in many babies being born to HIV positive mothers. HIV positive mothers are generally discouraged from breast-feeding in order to reduce possibility of infecting their babies. This however increases the chances of malnutrition in these babies hence affecting their chances of survival. When many African families say they have enough food, they
often refer to the carbohydrate part of the food. The protein and mineral component
may still be deficient. There is need to improve protein, vitamin and minerals
in most Africa diets. One way of providing energy, proteins and minerals to poor households is by promoting cultivation and use of highly nutritive crops that are rich in energy, proteins and nutrients. Such crops should be fast growing, high yielding and naturally acclimatized to the drought prone variable weather conditions common in most parts of sub- Saharan Africa. Amaranth is one such crop. Recently, amaranth has been gaining worldwide acceptance as a crop rich in high quality protein, due to its remarkable essential amino acid balance, and as excellent source of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and nutraceutical components (chemical compounds providing health benefits besides nutrition). Nutritionally, amaranth is better than milk in protein quality; it scores highly as a source of vitamins C and E as well as a source of calcium, iron and phosphorous. Nutrient analyses show that the crop is better than most other grains (maize, rice and wheat) in terms of nutrient levels. It also has some medicinal qualities (contains lysine, methionine and tryptophan) that help prevent cold sores, reduce disease infection and boost the body’s immune system. Both seed and leaves are edible. Grains contain 1.5 to 3.0 times more oil than other grains, which represents a high caloric content. Oleic and linoleic acids (both with nutraceutical properties) are two of the main fatty acids; grains also contain significant amounts of high-value escualene. Amaranth grains are an excellent source of calcium and other minerals, lacking in a significant proportion of the world’s diet. From an economic stand point, amaranth has the capacity to play
four main roles in improving the rural farmer’s welfare: First, it may
provide impoverished households with an alternative source of income. Secondly,
it could improve the nutritional content of food consumed by the household members,
especially the vulnerable groups (children, women and immuno-compromised individuals).
Thirdly, amaranth could reduce unemployment rates through the cultivation, processing
and marketing activities. And fourth, by lowering the relative price of cereals
through increased output, amaranth could make livestock products and fruits
more affordable (Tagwira and Okumu, 2003). Amaranths are hardy, fast growing pseudo cereals that have promising potential as nutritious food crop. Amaranth was a major food of the Aztecs and earlier American cultures. The crop almost disappeared after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico in the early 1500s until research on it began in the 1970s. Amaranth had however in the meantime spread to other countries and continents of the world like Africa, India and Nepal where it was used for grain or as a vegetable. Today amaranth is grown by many farmers around the world, in China, Russia, parts of Eastern Europe, Africa, South America and is re-emerging as a crop in Mexico. The major attraction of the crop is its high protein content for a non-legume. The protein content ranges between 16 to 18% protein. The protein is well balanced in amino acids and has high lysine content, an amino acid often deficient in most other grains. Amaranth comes
in diverse forms, but in general it is a broad-leaved purplish green plant that
grows as high as eight feet. The main stalk bears a single large seed head that
at maturity can exceed a foot in length by six inches in diameter, with bright
purple, orange, red, or golden flowers. Although amaranth produces tiny seeds,
about the size of sand grain, they occur in huge numbers, up to half a million
seeds per plant such that a single seed head can weigh as much as one kilogram.
The crop has extraordinary nutritional value and the ability to tolerate drought
and adapt readily to new environments. Amaranth is a non-grass grain unlike
the other major cereals like maize, rice and wheat. Unlike cereals, amaranth
leaves can be eaten. The tender leaves of the young plant are high in vitamin
A and C, riboflavin and folic acid. Contact
Us: | Faculty of:
| |
|
Last Updated: 24-Aug-2007 Copyright © 2005 Africa University All rights reserved |
