The 15-year-old has embarked on a mission to bring back millets to the mainstream by raising awareness about their consumption and production.
He focussed his research on Karnataka and found out that rice and wheat were the main crops grown in the region, and the farmers growing them were the ones who suffered constant crop failures.
"First, cereal grains tend to have a high glycemic index and low satiety index, which results in higher calorie consumption, and greater spikes in blood glucose levels; causing diseases like obesity, and increasing the risk of diabetes. Secondly, to support the growing demand for cereal crops like rice and wheat, farmers are being put under increasing stress to produce more. Cereal crops require a lot more water to grow than millets, and are far more sensitive to drought conditions, especially in arid areas. Crop failure rates are far higher in this case, and it places enormous economic stress on poor farmers who own small pieces of land in India," explains Arka.
All this research happened when Arka was a Class 9 student, and he felt an overwhelming urge to raise awareness on the plight of farmers.
With inspiration right at home, he decided to go the YouTube way with a two-pronged plan in mind.
Ragi Vermicelli Payasam. Courtesy: Millet Mantra. Ragi Paneer Paniyaram. Courtesy: Millet Mantra.
Ragi Vermicelli Upma. Courtesy: Millet Mantra.
I started with videos on tasty and nutritious dishes made from different types of millets like jowar (sorghum), foxtail millet and ragi (finger millet)," remembers Arka.
"I believe that millets offer a healthier, environmentally conscious alternative, and will support our agricultural industry, especially in arid regions," he adds.
To further his initiatives, Arka wants to work on the field, with farmers in Karnataka and this he plans on doing once his board exams will be over.
"My initial plan is to find some land, about 2 acres, and learn the fundamentals of millet farming straight from the farmers; possibly by May. This will work in our benefit with the monsoons shortly following that would meet our water requirements," states the young farming enthusiast, proudly.
Full article in the link below
https://www.thebetterindia.com/171740/bengaluru-youtube-millet-recipes-healthy-food-farmers/
for millet recipes in youtube type
Millet Mantra press enter you will get recipes
Posted by: Ravi Narasimhan <ravi.narasimhan.in@gmail.com>
| Reply via web post | • | Reply to sender | • | Reply to group | • | Start a New Topic | • | Messages in this topic (1) |
To subscribe send a mail to Keralites-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Send your posts to Keralites@yahoogroups.com.
Send your suggestions to Keralites-owner@yahoogroups.com.
To unsubscribe send a mail to Keralites-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Homepage: http://www.keralites.net
No comments:
Post a Comment