Asian Agri-History

Rajendra Prasad ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, IN

Abstract

Man has been using the milk of several animals, such as goat, sheep, cow, buffalo, horse, camel and donkey in different regions of the world since times immemorial. From the South, Southeast and East Asian viewpoint, cow, buffalo and goat milk are the most important. The contents of protein, fat, lactose and minerals differ considerably in milk from different animals. The per capita consumption of milk in Southeast and East Asia is very low and one of the reasons ascribed for this is high lactose intolerance in ethnic groups present in these regions. However, there are indications that continued use of milk and living near dairy farms can lead to lower lactose tolerance. Also milk products, such as, cheese and yogurt can be taken, without concern for lactose. Low consumption of milk has been held to be partly responsible for low male heights in this region. Currently, there is considerable global interest in the use of dairy proteins as supplements to improve metabolic health in humans and this should attract the attention of the people in South, Southeast and East Asia. With the establishment of Asian Dairy Network (DAN) in 2012, a good progress has been made in increasing the consumption of milk in Southeast and East Asia but it is still very low compared to other regions of the world. India has made commendable progress in dairy development and has emerged as the world's largest producer of milk, yet the per capita milk consumption is much lower than the average of the developed countries and it exports only 4% of its total produce. Indians used to be the major milk producers in Southeast Asia th th during 18 and 19 Century and it is high time that India seriously explores the ways and means of playing the key role in augmenting milk production and consumption in Southeast and East Asia. It has the advantage of being nearest to the region and of ethnic connectivity. Can India make the history repeat itself in its contribution towards milk production and consumption in Southeast and East Asia?

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Rajendra Prasad ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, IN

Abstract

According to ancient Indian scriptures including the recent Ramcharitmanas, five elements of nature, namely, earth, water, fire, sky, and wind are responsible for the creation, survival, and sustainability of human life on earth. The earth's gravitational force keeps all non-living and living objects stable and on ground. Earth provides land for agriculture and nutrients for plants that provide food for humans and animals. Earth provides the place for dwellings and is a store house of coal and fossil fuels that provide energy for locomotion and industry. Water is essential for life and water ways have been used for navigation since times immemorial. Hydel power also provides electricity. Fire is well known purifier even now and helps in cooking raw food. Energy is required for all mechanical and biological processes. Solar energy is essential for photosynthesis. Solar power is now being used for generating electricity, lightening homes, and for driving cars. Wind has oxygen, without which humans and many animal species cannot survive. Wind also has carbon dioxide the source of carbon in photosynthesis, the process responsible for manufacture of food by plants and the very basis of agriculture. Wind also has nitrogen, the source of protein for humans, and other living beings. Trade winds were responsible for the movement of people and goods in pre-motor-powered-ship era. Wind power is now being utilized for generating electricity. Sun, moon, clouds, and nitrogen in the sky are important for life on earth. Thus the present advancements made in understanding and utilizing the five elements of nature, prove the vision of our ancient sages and their careful management is the only way for a sustainable living on the planet earth.

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Rajendra Prasad ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi – 110012, Delhi, IN

Abstract

Cotton is one of the greatest gifts that India has given to the world, and its cultivation goes back to even before the Vedic period. Europeans came to know of cotton only in the 5th century, when Alexander the Great attacked India. Even before the arrival of the Mughals, India was trading cotton with countries in the Middle East, continental Europe, and Egypt through the Silk Route. For the Mughals, this was the major export commodity and the trade through the Silk Route continued until 1498 CE, when the Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama landed at Kappadu near Kozhikode (formerly Calicut), in Kerala, and established the sea route for trade. The British East India Company established itself strongly after their victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French associates in the Battle of Plassey on 23 June 1757. Export of cotton textiles and calico to Britain started in a big way and continued up to the end of the 18th century. However, the development of spinning and weaving machinery, during the late 18th century in Britain, reversed the trade by the early 19th century, and India became merely an exporter of raw cotton to Britain. During the late 18th century, the British cotton industry was the largest in the world, but the Anglo-French wars during 1778–83 reduced their trade with continental Europe, and USA became their major export market for cotton goods. Britain also started to import raw cotton from USA. India’s cotton export to Britain suffered because of this. However, the American Civil War of 1861–65 blocked the supply of raw cotton from USA, and Britain again started imports from India. World War I (1914-17) completely shattered the British cotton industry and it never recovered, because other countries began to develop their textile industries. India now exports raw cotton mainly to neighboring Bangladesh and Pakistan, and to some Southeast Asian countries. India’s exports in 2016-17 were estimated at US$ 6.3 billion (12.2% of the global exports). However, India is now the leading producer of organic cotton, the market for which is on the increase, but here again the trend is towards decline in area and production.

Keywords

Bt Cotton, Better Cotton Initiative, Calico, Cotton Textiles, East India Company, Muslin, Naturally-Coloured Cotton, Organic Cotton, Spinning Jenny, The Spinning Mule, The Water Frame.

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Rajendra Prasad ¹

Affiliations
1 6695 Meghan Rose Way, East Amherst, NY 14051, US

Abstract

Honey was the first sweetener to be discovered by humans in the ancient times. It remained the main sweetener in Europe until Alexander the Great’s visit to India in 326 BCE, when he came across the sweet-juice-producing sugarcane. Sugarcane originated in India during the Vedic period (1200–1000 BCE), and even today, most of the sugarcane grown all over the world has some genetic linkage to the ‘Noble’ canes bred at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-SBI), India. The technology for making sugar from sugarcane juice was also first developed in India. The word sugar, as well as Saccharum, the generic name for sugarcane, are derived from the Sanskrit word sharkara. Sugar beet as a source of sugar was identified in Europe in the middle of the 18^th century. Production of sugar syrups started much later. In recent times, the excess consumption of sugar and modern sedentary lifestyles created the problem of diabetes, triggering the search for non-sugar sweeteners. Saccharin, the world’s first and widely used artificial sweetener was accidentally discovered in 1879 in Germany. It was followed by the discovery of other artificial sweeteners, such asaspartame (APM), cyclamate, sucralose, acesulfame-k and neotame, which have been approved by different government authorities and are being marketed in many countries. Nevertheless, when taken in amounts more than the medically approved levels, they may cause health problems. This has made man turn back to Nature once again and search for natural non-sugar sweeteners. The most acceptable natural non-sugar sweetener today is ‘Stevia’, which had been known to people in South America since ages. Stevia is gaining popularity all over the world, and is reported to have antioxidant, antiviral, anti-hypertension, and anti-inflammatory properties. The two alcohol sweeteners erythritol and xylitol can also be considered as natural, since they are produced from natural products. Erythritol is produced from fermented fruits and foods, while xylitol is produced from hemicelluloses from hardwood. Yet another natural sweetener, licorice (mulethi), is mostly used as a flavoring agent and for medicinal purposes. Licorice, aspartame and cyclamate have nearly the same calorie value as sucrose, while xylitol has 63% calorie value as compared with sucrose. The rest of the non-sugar sweeteners are calorie-free.

Keywords

Acesulfame-k, Aspartame, Cyclamate, Diabetes, Honey, Licorice, Neotame, Saccharine, Stevia, Sucralose, Sucrose, Sugarcane, Sugar Beet.

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