Grain to feed the starving?

Quinoa originated in the Andean region of South America, where it has been an important food for 6,000 years. Its name is the Spanish spelling of the Quechua name. Quinoa is generally undemanding and altitude-hardy, so it can be easily cultivated in the Andes up to about 4,000 meters. Even so, it grows best in well-drained soils and requires a relatively long growing season. In eastern North America, it is susceptible to a leaf miner that may reduce crop success; this leaf miner also affects the common weed and close relative Chenopodium album, but C. album is much more resistant.

Similar Chenopodium species, such as Pitseed Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri) and Fat Hen (Chenopodium album), were grown and domesticated in North America as part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex before maize agriculture became popular. Fat Hen, which has a widespread distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, produces edible seeds and greens much like quinoa but in lower quantities. When grown in heavily fertilized fields, it can accumulate dangerously high concentrations of nitrates.

The Incas, who held the crop to be sacred, referred to quinoa as "chisaya mama" or "mother of all grains", and it was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using 'golden implements'. During the European conquest of South America quinoa was scorned by the Spanish colonists as "food for Indians," and even actively suppressed, due to its status within indigenous non-Christian ceremonies.

Quinoa requires short daylengths and cool temperatures for good growth. Areas in South America where it is still produced tend to be marginal agricultural areas that are prone to drought and have soils with low fertility. Cultivated quinoa will flower and produce seed at high elevations between 7,000 and 10,000 ft in Colorado since it requires a cool temperature for good vegetative growth. Research conducted in Colorado reported that temperatures which exceeded 95°F tended to cause plant dormancy or pollen sterility. In several years of trials near the Twin Cities, Minnesota, quinoa plants have failed to set seed; probably due to high temperatures.

Quinoa plants are usually tolerant to light frosts (30° to 32°F). Plants should not be exposed to temperatures below 28°F to avoid the 70 to 80% loss that occurred in Colorado during 1985 when plants were in mid-bloom (Johnson and Croissant, 1990). However, plants are not affected by temperatures down to 20°F after the grain has reached the soft-dough stage. Quinoa will flower earlier when grown in areas with shorter daylengths.

Quinoa is generally not a widely adapted crop due to temperature sensitivity. Farmers should experiment first before planting large acreages.

From "USA Emergency Supply" https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/all_about_grains/all_about_grains_quinoa.htm

"Quinoa can be grown just about anywhere - presently being grown in the US and Canada. But North American growers, so far, are unable to match the quality of Quinoa that comes from the high mountains of South America. Farmers trying to grow this variety of Quinoa, called Altiplano, haven't been able to get it to produce in the lower elevations of North America. Instead, North American farmers grow a darker brown, more bitter tasting variety of Quinoa called 'Sea Level Quinoa.' The really good, light colored, sweetly delicate Quinoa comes from the highest mountains in the Andes. This 'Golden Grain of the Andes' is such a rugged little plant that it can even grow at high, extremely dry elevations where even grass won't grow. Yet, the most sought-after strains of Quinoa are so fragile that they won't produce at lower elevations on good soil. Interestingly enough, much of the world's Quinoa is grown in Bolivia at elevations around 12,000 feet."

Now, wait a minute. I heard of the stuff here the same time you did, but didn't have a picture. Looks can be deceiving, but those weed look exactly like amaranth, also known as pigweed. Grows wild around here at 5,000 ft and has an edible grain, sometimes ground into flower. You sure it's not the same thing?

Yet, I've searched high and low on the internet, but can find little as to if or how this grain is being used to help world hunger.

chai2 wrote:

Yet, I've searched high and low on the internet, but can find little as to if or how this grain is being used to help world hunger.

well not to sound too conspiratorial, but, i don't think the powers that be want to eliminate world hunger, they talk about it, but i don't think they really want to do anything about it

well not to sound too conspiratorial, but, i don't think the powers that be want to eliminate world hunger, they talk about it, but i don't think they really want to do anything about it

Zambia welcomes Chinese agricultural know-how


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2006-03-23

Zambia needs China's assistance in technology and experts to develop agriculture so that it can feed its 11 million people, an agriculture official told a Chinese delegation Monday.
Zambia is hardly able to feed itself after more than 40 years of independence although it is bestowed with vast land and abundant water resources, said Minister of Agriculture Mundia Sikatana.

He attributed the plight of the country to the backward technology and lack of agricultural experts.

The 11-member Chinese delegation led by Wei Jianguo, deputy minister of commerce, and Wan Baorui, a senior agriculture official, is in the country looking into the feasibilities for thetwo countries' further cooperation in the agricultural sector.

Wan said China and Zambia have achieved a lot in the cooperation in the sector.

Farms operated by Chinese was set up in Zambia over a decade ago and there are currently a total of 15 state-owned and private Chinese farms in the country, which are playing an important role in contributing to the gross domestic products as well as solving the problem of unemployment.

He said the three-day visit was aimed to discuss with the Zambian government the direction of agricultural cooperation and find out new cooperative modalities.

Sikatana said China can help Zambia in many ways such as helping build an advanced irrigation system.

"Our government intends to establish a system of irrigation to enable Zambia to grow crops throughout the year instead of only inthe rainy seasons," the minister said.

The majority of the country's scattered farmers have no way to engage in crops growing during the dry seasons between April and November as a result of the lack of a well developed irrigation system though abundant water has been stocked underground.

Sikatana said China could help Zambia build canals, dams and other irrigation projects with advanced technologies and guidance from Chinese experts.

Farmer training is equally important, said the minister, addingthat the country intends to establish training centers for farmersin all its 72 districts and China can also play a role in this field.

"The best we can learn from China is to do like Chinese," Sikatana said.

Farmers face ruin as market madness upsets rice bowl of Africa

Mame, can you tell me if I could find this in our usual grocery stores here in BC? I can't recall seeing it on the shelves. Do you know if it's expensive? I'm intrigued enough to check it out.