On the anvil: Nutrition villages around Lucknow

LUCKNOW: Former director of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Suman PS Khanuja, has planned to transform the villages around this district into nutrition hubs by facilitating technological and scientific assistance for cultivation and post cultivation activities.

Khanuja, a nutrition expert who has developed innovative nutrition-rich products in the form of chocolates and shakes earlier, says, “Till now the farmers are into simple cultivation. We intend to give them scientific assistance to facilitate a nutrition-rich yield. Thereafter, ensuring market for the crops, packaging and quality enhancement etc.”

The nutrition expert has formed a group of researchers, science and technology experts, entrepreneurs, practitioners of natural products, educational institutions and other likeminded individuals to work on the dream project. The group named Flourafauna Science Foundation organized its first general body meeting on Sunday.

Khanuja says the group would focus on translating high-tech science discover- ies, bio-tech skills and out of box ideas into high value agriculture. For this villages would be identified soon and the team would start working on the project.

Citing an example to explain the necessity of his initaitve, Khanuja says, “Take for instance the Kala Namak rice variety which is widely produced in the state. While Basmati rice continues to rule the markets because of its packaging, advertisements etc, the local rice variety takes a back seat despite having higher nutritional qualities and aroma than Basmati rice variety.”

“The effort of the group would be to assist farmers in enhancing the nutritional quality of the rice and enabling entrepreneurs in villages for packaging and processing with the assistance of experts,” he added.