Research conducted on differential nutritional status in Njavara under organic farming has found "increased levels of protein and amino acids in organically grown seeds."The three-year research was conducted by D. Lavanya of the Postgraduate Department of Botany, Government Victoria College for the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment on the 'Collection and evaluation of medicinal rices, landraces Kerala.' Comparative studies on protein, starch, carbohydrate and amino acids showed an increased accumulation in organically grown seeds. The amount of protein in different cultivation practices showed major variations. The maximum amount of protein was recorded in organic cultivation during the season of February 2007 at 33.43 mgg and minimum in inorganic cultivation during the season in September 2004 at 25.90 mgg. The study also found that that it had more "carbohydrate content when organically cultivated." The amount of total free amino acid obtained in six samples of Njavara rice along with three different cultivation practices varied.
The maximum amount of free amino acid was 0.79 mgg in organic cultivation during the season of February 2007 and minimum amount 0.7 mgg in inorganic cultivation in September 2004.It said "the accumulation of harmful chemicals in the food products caused serious deleterious effects in human health. In this context, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the difference in the primary metabolites in organic cultivation in the staple food of the State, rice."In order to compare the differential accumulation of the metabolites, a medicinal-cum-food rice was selected. Njavara landrace is widely used in Kerala as medicinal rice as well, as this is consumed raw and with other medicinal herbs during the Malayalam month of 'Karkidakam.' This landrace was selected due to its growing popularity and relevance in the medical field. Organic cultivation practices with minimal or no application of inorganic synthetic chemicals and fertilizers are gaining popularity throughout the world. The study said organic farming was a specialised form of diversified agriculture, wherein problems of farming were managed using local resources. The term organic does not explicitly mean the type of inputs used; rather it refers to the concept of farm as an organism.
The Hindu, February 25, 2008
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