Yaovan, Nagvar (Telangana)
Yaovan’s family has been practising organic farming for generations. A traditional rigorous form of inter-cropping, crop rotation and using hardy heirloom seeds ensures soil fertility, and minimises pest attack.
Blog
The Simple and Humble Moong Dal
Moong Dal is one of the most cherished Asian Dal, and got its name from the Sanskrit word “Mudga”. A super source of protein, especially for vegetarians, this dal is used widely as an ingredient in sweet and savoury dishes.It is used very generously in Indian Ayurvedic Diets.
History
It is commonly believed that Moong was discovered in South East Asia. Early discovery of Moong was in the eastern zone of the Harappan Civilisation in Punjab and Haryana, which dates back to around 4500 years, while, in South India, it was discovered in the state of Karnataka 4000 years back. Archaeobotanical Research in Thailand leads us to believe that Moong had been cultivated 2200 years back. The Chinese have been cultivating Moong for over 2000 years and it is widely used in Chinese cuisine.
Nutrition Facts
This highly nutritious Dal is the best protein substitute for vegetarians. It is very useful for people suffering from Diabetes, Heart Diseases, Anaemia, Osteoporosis, Obesity and age related diseases. It is
- High in protein
- High in dietary fiber
- Low in fat
- Low in calories
It is a filling food rich in Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, Folate, Copper, Zinc and other B Vitamins. It also helps in lowering the cholesterol levels.
How is it grown
Moong beans are grown during two seasons – the Rabi Season(starting November) and the Kharif Season(starting June). They are tropical crops and require warm temperatures.It requires a well drained loamy to sandy loam soil. The temperatures should be between 25 degrees to 30 degrees celcius. Its growing period is usually 100 days with 80 to 100cm rainfall.
Moong Dal Dishes:
Savoury Pongal
Moong Dal Halwa
The puzzle of the Minimum Support Price
What’s the Minimum Support Price for the farmers? How does it work or not? Any which way, the buck stops with you and me. Yeah, us. We hope this post clears it all up.
First, we begin with the government’s well intentioned idea. Let’s look at the latest notification from the government. Here is the screenshot :
Let’s pick the Masur daal. The government is saying that they will buy it for Rs. 4250/- per quintal (100 Kgs), that is, about Rs.42.50 per kilo. Nice.
Let’s see what it sells for online. So, here is what we found on Amazon as the first hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOZVGPLziKI
Heirloom Varieties and Why They Matter
Heirloom Varieties – why They Matter
An Heirloom variety denotes a traditional variety of plant which is not associated with large-scale commercial agriculture.
Heirloom varieties are propagated by preserving seeds from a generation of plants, using some of it the next cycle, preserving seeds of that generation etc. In this manner, the genetic material of Heirloom varieties is picked for desirable characteristics such as:
- Disease resistant: If the plant fared better in naturally dealing with a set of pests, then the seeds will have that genetic imprint over generations
- Drought resistant: ensuring plants are picked that can do well with very little water
- Taste and nutrition
On the other hand, we have hybrid plant varieties that come from hybrid seeds. In this case, seeds are generated by a controlled method of pollination in which the pollen of two different species or varieties is crossed by human intervention.
Typically hybrid seeds are selected for the desirable characteristic of yield. Ie, the amount of output (either grain, lentil, vegetable etc) is maximised per acre of land it is grown on.
While maximising yield isnt an undesirable or negative thing, hybrid varieties suffer from the following disadvantages:
are grown by combining two or more plants together to get desired traits such as more yield, resistance to certain pests, etc. However, heirloom varieties are kept untouched to retain those very qualities that they already possess.
Heirloom varieties are becoming scarce these days due to an influx of modified varieties that give more output.
By definition, heirloom varieties are purely non-GMO (genetically modified organisms). These weren’t specifically bred to give it certain qualities – instead they were safeguarded and passed on from generations to keep certain qualities.
Why Heirloom Varieties Matter:
Here are a few advantages of heirloom varieties and heirloom seeds:
1. Heirloom Varieties Taste Better:
Heirloom vegetables and fruits taste much better than their GMO and hybrid counterparts. This is because they’ve variedc the same taste over generations. The only downside to some may be the weird shape or size that these heirloom varieties take.
2. Heirloom Varieties are Much More Nutritious:
GMO foods are grown with the sole intention of increasing yield. Heirloom varieties, on the other hand aren’t grown with any such intention. Though they give a lower yield, heirloom varieties are packed with more nutritious value.
3. Heirloom Varieties Yield Reusable Seeds:
In the case of GMO crops, the farmers often have to guy new seeds from companies such as Bayer, Mosanto, etc. However, heirloom varieties give reusable seeds, carrying the same qualities as the parent, thereby saving the cost of buying seeds every sowing season.
4. Harvested in Batches – Helps in Regulating Supply:
Heirloom crops aren’t grown all at once – they’re usually spread in small batches harvested throughout the year. This encourages us to buy more local produce.
Women Farmers in India
A Majority of Indian Farmers are Women – That’s Just the tip of the Iceberg
A majority of Indian farmers are women – their fight for recognition as an equal contributor in farming activities has been going on for too long. It is high time we acknowledge the efforts our women farmers put in and give them ownership rights & a sense of belonging.
The Unequal Half:
A simple look at employment figures show that pan-India, on an average, about 60-70% of the farmers are women. Women’s role in agriculture is often taken for granted.
Women work in every single activity associated with agriculture, from tilling, seeding, irrigation, to harvesting. Even though women are so closely associated with agriculture, levels of land ownership among women farmers are very low.
According to the 2010-2011 Agricultural Census, only 12.76% of the women in agriculture own land. In total, women owned only 10.36% of the total land.
These figures vary from state to state. The highest figure comes from Uttar Pradesh, at around 18%, while Kerala, India’s most educated state clocks in at a meagre 14%.
Problems Faced by Indian Women Farmers:
Women farmers face their share of problems. Most of these are left ignored and the ones that come to light are left unsolved. A lot of problems women face arise due to the fact that they don’t get fair ownership of land. With land ownership being a problem by itself, this forms a deadly cycle, where women neither get land ownership, nor the benefits of land ownership.
Here are a few problems women farmers face in India:
- Biased Inheritance Laws: India’s inheritance laws are a nightmare – women don’t get their fair share of inheritance. This is due to a host of social issues as well as legal red tape, wherein the process takes so long that people abandon their quest for justice. Most of the landless women farmers either live on a daily wage or make very little every month – if she has to choose between feeding her family and fighting a court case, she’s going to choose the former.
- Ghost-Farmers: Though a majority, women farmers don’t get recognized for any efforts they put in. Most of the references to farmers will include the masculine pronoun – this shows the extent to which women farmers are ignored. Even when they put in their best work, their work isn’t acknowledged and for the most part taken for granted.
| The Iconic Image of a Farmer | Despite contributing more to agriculture than their male counterparts, females don’t get their share of representation. - Biased Social Outlook: Problems of land ownership don’t just stem from legal issues – laws can be circumvented quite easily if there’s enough social validation. The problem here is the social attitude that’s biased in favor of men. Most patriarchal societies don’t allow women to have lands registered in their name. This brings us to the next point.
- Lack of Access to the Agricultural Value Chain: Irregular land ownership among women or landless women farmers are at a clear disadvantage when it comes to raising funds and getting a decent income.
Lower land holdings among women farmers means a lack of access to the agricultural value chain. Even in farmers’ markets, farmers need to be connected enough to sell their produce at the best price.
- Lack of Access to Credit Facilities: Since women don’t own a lot of land, it becomes very difficult to get loans to kickstart their farming activities. Farming requires a significant investment in the form of seeds, tractors, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Lack of these credit facilities makes it difficult to for these farmers to stay floating. These farmers then turn to non-institutional sources of finance, such as moneylenders, loan sharks, etc. High rates of interest coupled with highly inconvenient repayment turn women away from agriculture.
The Bottom Line:
At Daana, a lot of our associated farmers are women. It is an absolute pleasure to mention that all our women farmers are self-sufficient and quite passionate about their farms. The love and care with which they tend to their crops is marvelous. The knowledge that some of these farmers hae gathered over the years is unbelievable.
Want to learn more about what plagues the Indian woman farmer? What better way than to hear it first hand! Do a little research, look up some of the successful women-run farms in your area. These farms make for great day-trips and are very educational for everyone.
Daana wishes all its readers a very happy International Women’s Day!
Pesticides – How They Affect Us
It’s Time we Addressed the Elephant in the Room – Pesticides
Every morning, I make sure I eat at least one fruit per day. I’ve had this habit since high school, and I follow it religiously. It’s no wonder I don’t fall ill very often – the vitamins and minerals in fruits sure help.
However, of late, I’ve been having some troubling thoughts. I was watching a documentary on widespread use of pesticides and how they’ve permeated the world’s food supply chain – that got me thinking. How healthy is the fruit that I so religiously eat every morning? Is it even safe to consume given the number of pesticide treatments it has gone through?
That’s when I decided to turn my curiosity into action. Here are a few things I found:
Mass-produced fruits and vegetables are usually protected from pests & insects using some form of chemical pesticides. These chemical pesticides not only kill existing pests on crops, but also protect them from future attacks. While that may sound like a good thing, the downside is that chemical pesticides often get absorbed into the produce, which might even make it onto your dining table.
Pesticides are often quite important in farming, as they help save and protect crops from pests and insects. The problem is inorganic, chemical fertilizers whose use is quite widespread even today. Instead, organic pesticide works just as well and is very safe to use. Common items such as Neem leaves, Citric Acid & Cayenne Pepper, etc. are great organic alternatives to chemical pesticides.
We Risk Exposure Every. Single. Day.
Pesticides and their related chemicals aren’t just restricted to farms. You & I are exposed to chemical pesticides every single day. That chemical you used to get rid of cockroaches in your kitchen? Herbicide you’ve used to kill weeds in your lawn? Fungicide you’ve used to get rid of fungus attacks in your garden? Bug spray? All of them use chemicals found in pesticides. To get rid of pesticides completely is a mammoth task, and one that requires lots of vigilance. Getting rid of pesticides doesn’t just involve buying organic produce – it involves living an observant life; one that revolves around the ideas of healthy living as a whole.
How Pesticides Affect the Environment:
It is common knowledge that pesticides affect the environment in many ways. The most common thing we keep hearing about is how pesticides might get absorbed in underground water reserves. This process is known as “leeching”.
It is not just underground water reserves that get polluted – rivers, lakes, oceans, etc. also absorb pesticides. For example, a farmer growing watermelon near a river bed uses pesticides to ward off pests and insects. This might get absorbed into the water and end up polluting the entire water body.
Almost every month, we see a picture of dead fishes, turtles, etc. on social media. Pesticides killing aquatic life throws the entire ecosystem off track.
Another way pesticides pollute the environment is “volatilization”. Lots of times, when pesticide is sprayed onto plants and in farms, a small amount gets vaporized, which allows it to travel through air. This creates breathing problems for humans who are exposed to this, as well as creating trouble for wildlife found in surrounding areas.
For example, a popular chemical found in pesticides, Atrazine has been found to cause reproductive issues in certain kinds of frogs. A study conducted by Berkeley seems to confirm this, as shown here.
Pesticides – How They Affect Humans:
Pesticides not only affect the environment we live in, but also have a direct impact on our health. The biggest problem here is that we don’t really know how much pesticide we’re consuming on a daily basis. When eating an inorganic fruit or vegetable, you should know that it’s been sprayed with at least 20 different chemicals that might have made their way into the fruit.
Pesticides and related chemicals get stored in the human body in the colon. These pesticides will poison you – albeit slowly, but surely.
Lots of studies show the link between pesticides and human conditions such as Alzheimer’s, ADHD, certain birth defects, etc.
Glyphosate is another chemical that can get you killed. In a recent lawsuit, Mosanto, the maker of Roundup was ordered to pay $289 million as compensation to a person for causing his cancer.
What you can do:
As stated previously, we don’t really know how much pesticide we’re even consuming every day. While one fruit might not seem a lot, why don’t you add it up for the whole year? We do this our whole lives!
The first thing you can do to stay away from pesticides, is shop organic. While organic crops aren’t fully free of pesticides, they use organic pesticides such as Neem cakes, which are not nearly as damaging as chemical pesticides such as Atrazine and Glyphosate.
If you have plants at home, please avoid using chemical pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Instead, use organic alternatives such as Neem cake, Cayenne pepper, etc.
It may be disheartening, but we’re limited in options as to how we can stay clear of pesticides. While shopping organic won’t do enough, it’s still something. We’re all fighting the same battle against chemical pesticides – do your bit. Stop using pesticides and produce grown using pesticides!
Beyond Meat
The company Beyond Meat was in the news recently for an explosive IPO last week.
This write up covers some of my thoughts around it. Again, I am penning this within the Daana blog, even though much of the opinion is my personal opinion. The reason I think this is not misplaced is that when it comes to sustainability, what we are trying to do in Daana does not differ vastly from my personal thoughts.
Before I delve into my thoughts, it is best I address the 900 pound gorilla in the room. I am a vegan, and have been following a plant based diest for more than 8 years now. I do carry my beliefs on my sleeve, but I am not one to proselytyze.
- Beyond meat claims to be the worlds first plant based burger: This is simply not true. Garden burgers, veggie patties and the like have been in the US market since atleast the 1990’s.
- Beyond meat claims to satisfy the taste of beef. That is probably alright, just on the face of that claim. For folks who want to switch to a largely plant based diet, transition foods help.
- Beyond Meat states its mission as follows: “At Beyond Meat, we believe there is a better way to feed the planet. Our mission is to create The Future of Protein® – delicious plant-based burgers, sausage, crumbles, and more– made directly from simple plant-based ingredients. By shifting from animal, to plant-based meat, we are creating one savory solution that solves four growing issues attributed to livestock production: human health, climate change, constraints on natural resources and animal welfare.” Again, that claim, from the face of it looks simple and logical. Basic food cycle math will demonstrate that one can feed humans more efficiently by directly supplying nutrients from plants, than having to feed them to animals who in turn feed humans.
Lets start deconstructing this a bit further.
- Ingredients:
- Sourcing
- Preparation
- Logistics
¡Embochinchamos Depana cl!
Content
@anisbochinche En De Pana puedes probar los mejores tragos con Anís Bochinche 🔥🔥🔥 #venezolanosenchile #anis #tiktok #sabor ♬ depana.cl Strawberry – Prod.
- @anisbochinche En De Pana puedes probar los mejores tragos con Anís Bochinche 🔥🔥🔥 #venezolanosenchile #anis #tiktok #sabor ♬ Strawberry – Prod.
- @anisbochinche En De Pana puedes probar los mejores tragos con Anís Bochinche 🔥🔥🔥 #venezolanosenchile #anis #tiktok #sabor ♬ Strawberry – Prod.
- @anisbochinche En De Pana puedes probar los mejores tragos con Anís Bochinche 🔥🔥🔥 #venezolanosenchile #anis #tiktok #sabor ♬ Strawberry – Prod.
- @anisbochinche En De Pana puedes probar los mejores tragos con Anís Bochinche 🔥🔥🔥 #venezolanosenchile #anis #tiktok #sabor ♬ Strawberry – Prod.
- @anisbochinche En De Pana puedes probar los mejores tragos con Anís Bochinche 🔥🔥🔥 #venezolanosenchile #anis #tiktok #sabor ♬ Strawberry – Prod.
Koen Sushi 924 784 522 Queluz cidade
Content
Queremos que os clientes se sintam à vontade, relaxem e aproveitem uma boa refeição”, acrescenta. Jil descreve o espaço como um local perfeito para socializar, seja em família, com amigos ou em casal. O Sushi Koen é um restaurante acolhedor, onde a luz natural predomina durante o dia, e à noite transforma-se num ambiente mais intimista com pouca iluminação. Mais tarde, durante a pandemia da Covid-19, quando o setor da restauração quase entrou em colapso, Jil e alguns colegas consideraram abrir um restaurante. Contudo, o seu desejo sempre foi regressar a Portugal e acabou por rumar ao Algarve, onde trabalhou em hotéis. Agora, aos 30 anos, é proprietário do Sushi Koen, o restaurante que inaugurou há dois anos e meio em Massamá.
📊 Comparação com Outros Restaurantes
- Hoje em dia ir jantar ou almoçar ao sushi já é uma opção regular para muitos portugueses.
- O Sushi Koen revela-se, assim, um local ideal para um jantar em família.
- Queremos que os clientes se sintam à vontade, relaxem e aproveitem uma boa refeição”, acrescenta.
- Sushi tradicional ou de fusão, como preferir, espera por si nestas experiências gastronómicas inesquecíveis.
Licenciado em gestão hoteleira, a escassez de oportunidades em Portugal levou-o a rumar à Escócia. Sim, a Koen Sushi oferece entrega como opção. Koen Sushi está localizado em Queluz (cidade), Distrito de Lisboa.
Menu de Degustação de Sushi para Dois em Massamá 62 Peças de Sushi + Jarro de Sangria no Koen Sushi
“Temos um restaurante movimentado, e cerca de 80 por cento dos nossos clientes são regulares”, conclui o proprietário. Meses depois, decidiu rumar à Escócia, atraído pela fama do seu excelente whisky. Por outro lado, se quiser surpreender os seus pais ou amigos mais chegados, esta experiência é uma excelente forma de os presentear.
🔗 Restaurantes Similares
O menu de degustação custa 23,90€ e inclui quatro entradas, acompanhadas de um conjunto variado de peças de sushi, que qual os clientes podem repetir ou escolher outras. Nesse período, surgiu um excelente espaço, com estacionamento, o que fazia todo o sentido do ponto de vista estratégico”, refere Jil. Se preferir que a escolha final fique do lado do sortudo que receber o seu presente, opte por um pack repleto de restaurantes de sushi.
"Este SushiCorner pertence ao grupo do SushiCafé, que na Avenida da Liberdade tem um dos melhores restaurantes japoneses de Lisboa. Esta versão da shopping mantém a qualidade dos ingredientes, mas claro que não tem nem um terço da oferta. Aqui há muito salmão e muitas peças normais, ainda assim com ingredientes bons e frescos. Há menus onde dá para comer um pouco de tudo, com alguma variedade. Não é especialmente barato para o registo shopping, mas é sushi e do bom, por isso é normal que seja mais caro." — ONDEVAMOS JANTAR, zomato.com O sashimi misto, que inclui atum, peixe-branco e salmão (17,50€ por 15 peças), e as gyozas, com ravioli japonês de frango e vegetais (6,50€ por 4 unidades) são também opções populares. Dê uma vista de olhos nos restaurantes mais populares do momento e deixe-se inspirar para que a sua prenda seja um miminho inesquecível!
Os hot rolls, ideais para os que preferem peixe cozinhado, variam entre 15€ e 18€ por 10 unidades, acompanhados por alho-francês e até morangos. Entre as sugestões, destacam-se os dragon rolls, que incluem barriga de salmão recheada com camarão e queijo (19€), cobertos com um “molho do chef”, cuja receita Jil não revela. Conhecido pelo seu peixe fresco e pelo ambiente familiar, koensushi.pt o Sushi Koen cultiva a proximidade.
MENU
Sendo tradicionalmente para partilhar, o sushi é perfeito para um jantar romântico. Sushi tradicional ou de fusão, como preferir, espera por si nestas experiências gastronómicas inesquecíveis. Do Porto a Lisboa existem imensas opções de escolha para todos os gostos e até para todas as ocasiões especiais. Esta especialidade japonesa conquistou o paladar de muita gente e a Odisseias quer que experimente o melhor sushi da sua cidade!
Hoje em dia ir jantar ou almoçar ao sushi já é uma opção regular para muitos portugueses. O menu do Sushi Corner tem opções que vão desde entradas, como Barriga de Salmão e Gunkan Tartar, até bowls como Poke Salmão e Salmão Teriyaki. O temaki, um cone com arroz e recheio, é uma das opções mais procuradas, disponível em versões com camarão panado (6,90€), atum (6,50€) ou salmão com manga e ovas (6,50€).
A oferta de bebidas inclui limonadas, chás e cervejas. Os makis incluem opções como Crunchy Pearls e Tuna Fiesta. Carregue na galeria para ver algumas imagens das propostas do novo restaurante asiático de Massamá. Está aberto todos os dias, das 12 às 15 horas para almoços e das 19 às 23 horas para jantares. O Sushi Koen revela-se, assim, um local ideal para um jantar em família.