LEISA Magazine, volume 23
Issue 3 - Healthier farmers, better products
The revival of an anciente crop
Five centuries ago, amaranth was an important crop used in many ways in daily life in Mexico. Today, in contrast, much of the rural population survives on a very limited diet, based primarily on corn. Fortunately, amaranth is making a comeback, becoming more and more popular around the world due to its exceptional nutritional value, and ability to grow easily in hot, semiarid climates. This article describes how Puente a la Salud Comunitaria (Bridge to Community Health), an NGO operating in Oaxaca, is bridging the gap between rural health and agricultural development through an integrated programme of nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, crop diversification, and soil conservation. In this way, they are promoting amaranth as a culturally significant, highly nutritious, and potentially income-generating alternative for crop diversification and food security.
Joshua Spetter, Lisa Thompson© 2004-2010 ILEIA. For comments, please mail webmaster(at)ileia.nl.