Food aplenty
SCENES of starvation in the African, countries are a common feature and a subject of constant world attention. Often, aid and food have been rushed to these countries to stave off the hunger crisis. But help seems to be literally at hand, in their own backyards, asia recent study of the National Research)Council has revealed.
Native food plants have been a much overlooked food resource in sub-Saharan Africa which could do wonders in tiding over the national food security crisis. Africa is reportedly a treasure trove of more than 2,000 varieties of grains, roots, fruits *and other food plants. The report details steps to cliswpel myths about the nutritional value, flavour and yield of these native grains and also' to-increase their intake. Known to many Africans, these cereals can feed not only Africa, but also the world, considering the expected doubling of the human population in -the coming century. African rice, finger millet sorghum, teff and fonio are some of the wonder grains growing here and could soon gain more importance as primary crop plants.