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Health experts
say that adults need 0.37 grams of protein per pound of body weight
as per recommended dietary allowance, with a higher protein need
as they age.
Plant sources
of protein may often be deficient in essential amino acids but these
deficiencies can be overcome by consuming a wide variety of plant
foods, say experts.
As well, 100
grams of dry pigeonpea seeds contain 296 milligrams of calcium and
6.7 milligrams of iron.
In a seminar
held at PCARRD in Los Baños, Laguna, Saxena discussed the
health benefits of pigeonpea not only as food but also as fodder
for rabbits, Boer goats, and cattle.
His study on
the potentials of pigeonpea showed that its fresh green forage contains
23.7 percent crude protein, 35.7 percent crude fiber, and 5.3 percent
fat.
Its seed meal
has 25.3 percent crude protein, 7.3 percent crude fiber, 61.2 percent
nitrogen-free extract, and 1.7 percent fat.
In this PCARRD-sponsored
seminar on the potentials of pigeonpea in Asia, Saxena, a native
of India where pigeonpea is widely grown, was proud to share the
results of his research on pigeonpea breeding in China.
To study the
possibility of successful pigeonpea production in the Philippines,
ICRISAT, in collaboration with PCARRD and the Department of Agriculture
(DA)–Bureau of Agricultural Research, is conducting a research
in Batac, Ilocos Norte; Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Ilagan, Isabela;
and Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
The local government
units of said towns, along with the Mariano Marcos State University,
Ilocos Sur Polytechnic and State College, DA-Cagayan Valley Integrated
Agricultural Research Center, and Central Luzon State University
serve as implementing institutions.
Researchers
from the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Manila and BPI-Los
Baños National Crop Research and Development Center, Institute
of Plant Breeding–University of the Philippines Los Baños,
Department of Science and Technology Region IV, PCARRD, and DA-Southern
Tagalog Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Lipa City, Batangas,
participated in the said seminar held on April 17. (Arlene R. Obmerga,
S&T Media Service)
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