Ragi - A Wonder-grain

It is really amazing how the nature cares for us. It has provided us with a super grain...Ragi ... also known as Finger Millet, Nachni, Sollu, or Sattemavu. This super-grain called ragi...

• well without irrigation, pesticides or fertilizers.
• Is rich in calcium iron, protein and some rare nutrients such as methionine.
• Digests easily from infancy through old age, and its nutrients are highly absorbed.
• Costs much less than wheat, rice, or dairy milk, while delivering superior nutrition to all from infants to aged folks.
• Is very adaptable to higher elevations and is grown in the Himalaya up to 2300 meters altitude.
• Once harvested, the ragi seeds keep extremely well and are seldom attacked by insects or moulds.
• Is very good for diabetic patients.

Finger millet is especially valuable as it contains the amino acid methionine, which is lacking in the diets of hundreds of millions of the poor who live on starchy staples such as cassava, plantain, polished rice, or maize meal. Finger millet can be ground and cooked into cakes, puddings or porridge. The grain is made into a fermented drink (or beer) in many parts of Africa. The straw from finger millet is used as animal fodder. Nutritive value of Ragi per 100 g Protein 7.3 g Fat 1.3 g Carbohydrate 72 g Minerals 2.7 g Calcium 3.44 g Fiber 3.6 g Phosphorous 2.83 g Iron 0.039 g Energy 328 KCal Sprouting ragi increases the bioavailability of its iron to 88%, comparable only to mother’s milk (and 8 times higher than cow’s milk). While ragi is an ideal first food after an infant reaches at least 6 months of age. But the impact of advertising is such that many people, not recognizing the value of their traditional homegrown, homemade food are choosing packaged infant foods made from refined wheat or rice, and even earlier than 6 months. Without always knowing the numbers, villagers and city-folks have sprouted grains and beans for variety. When we lose these healthy habits, our traditional homegrown, homemade food needs a make-over. I pity that such super grain is losing its popularity when people should have demanded it more. In fact, Deccan Herald reports that ragi: “Has lost 31 per cent of its cropping area...Unless the government policy changes drastically, dry land farming will die and so will dry land farmers.” For centuries, ragi was synonymous with health for people in the southern parts of the state, especially the rural kannadiga communities. They cherished ragi rotis and muddes (ragi balls that are meant to be gobbled without chewing). But the magic did not last long, thanks to the much sought after rice and wheat. The public distribution system added fuel to the fire — it sold rice for Rs. 2 per kilogramme (kg) but ragi at Rs 6-7 per kg. Consequently, the working class — ragi’s main consumers — also disowned it. Did you know...? If you were to buy a kilo of ragi in Mumbai city it would cost around Rs.100/- where as they can be made available at Rs.5/- a kilo which includes a hefty margin for the retailers and distributors!!! The "Baby foods" companies are wiping out markets for such healthy food products. The "Baby food" not only cost more, but do not deliver equivalent nutrition. They may contain added sugar, preservatives, and chemical residues. Moreover, poorer families may use these inferior but expensive substitutes sparingly, whereas if they were to eat ragi, the whole family, including the women, especially lactating mothers, could have their fill. Nature also cares for its Animals: Jowar is another crop that is not only nutritious, but provides fodder for cows. While the government has touted its "Cow Program" to relieve struggling farmers in Vidarbha, the farmers struggle even more to provide fodder for these cows. One farmer noted that government support for jowar as a food grain would also provide fodder for the cows. Unfortunately neither ragi nor jowar are currently supported by the Public Distribution System (except in a few regions). Times of India noted on Feb 28, 2007: “In many states, jowar, bajra and ragi are staple foods of the poor, but these coarse cereals are not covered by PDS. Poor people in these states end up eating wheat and rice. There is no export market for these coarse cereals either. So, prices of these cereals keep falling. The worst part is that these crops are grown by the very poor — marginal farmers on non-irrigated land. The very poor keep getting poorer as there are no takers for the food grains they grow — not even the poor." Rediscover traditional foods and sustain these for all! Data and Facts collected from AIDIndia and wikipedia websites.