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quinoa
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Enquire in Anantpur District
Read the following article
Hyderabad: Quinoa is a food to replace cereals that has taken the world market by storm. Its successful growth in the Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development is a cause for cheer for India.
With quinoa prices skyrocketing in the world market, the successful experiment shows that there is hope for farmers to look at another crop during the severe summer months.
The crop was cultured in the laboratory in February and small offshoots planted in March. The growth since then has been phenomenal, and despite the severe summer, the crop has borne the grain.
Three different varieties have been planted in medium soil and as the plant has a weak stem, it requires a stick to support it. Some saplings planted under a tree have grown higher than those in direct sunlight but the crop is taking time to bear the grain. The time-period from sapling to maturity is calculated as 150 days.
“For the extreme temperatures of AP, the full growth of quinoa under direct sunlight means a lot,” explained project in charge Ratna Chary. Another important feature is that the plant does not require too much water.
“For this crop, 200 mm rainfall in a year is enough. This means that it can be grown in drought-like conditions. While watering the plant, we had to provide a separate drainage cha-nnel so that excess water flows away, otherwise the plant would not survive,” explained director general of the Centre for Development Studies K. Chandramouli.
It does not require too much of manure but requires a good amount of organic pesticide in terms of neem Cake. “The infestation of white flies is a problem with all leafy plants. Good quantity of neem cake applied in the soil keeps flies,” said Chary.
Quinoa is sold for Rs 1,500 per kg in Hyderabad
The growing enthusiasm for consuming the health food quinoa has hiked the prices of the grain worldwide. In Hyderabad, at present it is imported and sold at a whopping price of `1,500 per kg in only two supermarkets in Banjara Hills.
The situation in Hyderabad is reflected in the rest of the country and the world. The ‘wonder grain’, as it’s called, is much sought-after for its high health properties —rich protein content, fibre, calcium and amino acids.
Quinoa is increasingly popular in the United States, Europe, China and Japan. But the grain is not grown there and is imported from Central and South America — Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia, where the soil and climate is suitable and it is grown on the mountain slopes, plateaus and valleys.
These places are the only areas where quinoa is grown commercially. Due to the huge demand, the prices have tripled in the world market from 2006 to 2013. In 2011, the average crop value was $3,115 per ton with some varieties selling for as much as $8,000 per ton.
The difference in this demand-supply chain is what pegs quinoa at such a high price. So, quinoa is not commercially grown in most other parts of the world that want to consume it. Many people opt to buy red rice which is way cheaper than quinoa, because of the affordability quotient.
Director general of Center for Development Studies, K. Chandramouli says, “The demand of quinoa has suddenly increased among vegetarians. The first crop will be planted in Anantpur district in July and after that we hope that it can be made available at `30 per kg.
Enquire in Anantpur District
Read the following article
Hyderabad: Quinoa is a food to replace cereals that has taken the world market by storm. Its successful growth in the Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development is a cause for cheer for India.
With quinoa prices skyrocketing in the world market, the successful experiment shows that there is hope for farmers to look at another crop during the severe summer months.
The crop was cultured in the laboratory in February and small offshoots planted in March. The growth since then has been phenomenal, and despite the severe summer, the crop has borne the grain.
Three different varieties have been planted in medium soil and as the plant has a weak stem, it requires a stick to support it. Some saplings planted under a tree have grown higher than those in direct sunlight but the crop is taking time to bear the grain. The time-period from sapling to maturity is calculated as 150 days.
“For the extreme temperatures of AP, the full growth of quinoa under direct sunlight means a lot,” explained project in charge Ratna Chary. Another important feature is that the plant does not require too much water.
“For this crop, 200 mm rainfall in a year is enough. This means that it can be grown in drought-like conditions. While watering the plant, we had to provide a separate drainage cha-nnel so that excess water flows away, otherwise the plant would not survive,” explained director general of the Centre for Development Studies K. Chandramouli.
It does not require too much of manure but requires a good amount of organic pesticide in terms of neem Cake. “The infestation of white flies is a problem with all leafy plants. Good quantity of neem cake applied in the soil keeps flies,” said Chary.
Quinoa is sold for Rs 1,500 per kg in Hyderabad
The growing enthusiasm for consuming the health food quinoa has hiked the prices of the grain worldwide. In Hyderabad, at present it is imported and sold at a whopping price of `1,500 per kg in only two supermarkets in Banjara Hills.
The situation in Hyderabad is reflected in the rest of the country and the world. The ‘wonder grain’, as it’s called, is much sought-after for its high health properties —rich protein content, fibre, calcium and amino acids.
Quinoa is increasingly popular in the United States, Europe, China and Japan. But the grain is not grown there and is imported from Central and South America — Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia, where the soil and climate is suitable and it is grown on the mountain slopes, plateaus and valleys.
These places are the only areas where quinoa is grown commercially. Due to the huge demand, the prices have tripled in the world market from 2006 to 2013. In 2011, the average crop value was $3,115 per ton with some varieties selling for as much as $8,000 per ton.
The difference in this demand-supply chain is what pegs quinoa at such a high price. So, quinoa is not commercially grown in most other parts of the world that want to consume it. Many people opt to buy red rice which is way cheaper than quinoa, because of the affordability quotient.
Director general of Center for Development Studies, K. Chandramouli says, “The demand of quinoa has suddenly increased among vegetarians. The first crop will be planted in Anantpur district in July and after that we hope that it can be made available at `30 per kg.