Declining barley plantation, a matter of concern

Galeshwor (Myagdi)- The senior people here have been worried over fading barley crops which is full of nutrition and bears religious values as well. Barley is not only a nutritious food for human health but also an essential paraphernalia for religious events.

The senior people also expressed concern why the new generation was not interested to cultivate the cereal. Bed Prasad Upadhyay, 89, from Beni Municipality-2 viewed, “We cannot conduct religious rituals without having barley in assortment. Not only for we people but also for livestock, it is a useful feed.”

Once the roasted barley grains are fed to milch cows and buffalos, it restores energy, he added. Similarly, Tek Bahadur Pun from Malika rural municipality-6 reminded that those past days used to see famine. Rice was not available. So, the people had no option but to eat roasted barley flour with milk or curd.

Although this cereal is a good source of nutrition to human health, the locals are not aware about it, which has led to fading cultivation. Moreover, Hari Krishna Paudel from Mangala rural municipality-2 informed that although the farmers used to cultivate barley in almost all wards of Mangala, Malika, Dhawalagiri, Raghuganga and Annapurna rural municipalities in the past, it is not anywhere now.

He added that barley consumption was good for people suffering various health problems including high blood pressure, constipation, heart disease, diabetes. The agriculture knowledge centre in the district said the cultivation of barley significantly dropped in the district in recent years. It was cultivated in nearly 1,000 hectares of land. The people are lured towards wheat crops now, the Centre added.