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THE QUALITY OF THE DIET

The ingredients shown in table 1 were processed as they would be at home, and then blended to form a food composite. Batches of the composite were analysed for various nutrients and the rest was used to run biological tests. Some of the important results are shown in table 9. The diet varies between 12 to 14 per cent protein. Its protein quality is 81 per cent of the value for casein, and if supplemented with milk or eggs it reaches quality values similar to the reference protein [22] .

TABLE 6. Protein quality in rat growth assays of Guatemalan indigenous vegetables

Source: Bressani 1161.

TABLE 7. Supplementary effect of a diet based on corn and beans (90: 10) with 5 per cent amaranth leaves (rat growth assay)

a. With supplement of vitamins and minerals.
b. With no supplement of vitamins and minerals

TABLE 8. Average weight gain (g) of rats fed with different flours from starch foods and different levels of cooked bean flour

Source: Bressani et al. [19].

FIG. 3. Protein value of two cereal mixtures

FIG. 4. Integrated agricultural production model based on diet

THE INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION MODEL FAMILY FARM

Based on the composition of food ingredients shown in table 1, one hectare of land located at 1,500 m above sea level was used for the initial food production test. The land allocation to the various crops was based on average yields as reported for the whole country of Guatemala, in accordance with the amounts needed in the diet. The soil at the experimental site is heavy clay, with an annual precipitation of 1,400 cm from May to late October. After the area had been ploughed, 8,700 kg of chicken manure were spread as evenly as possible, and then incorporated into the soil. The land allocation to the various food crops and animals is shown in figure 4; of the total area, 9,280 m² were allocated to corn, climbing black beans, and two types of pumpkins indigenous to the area. White corn was planted using three grains per hill at a distance of 80 cm between hills and 180 cm between rows. A total of 11 kg of an open pollinated selection locally adapted was used. Forty days after the planting of the corn, each hill of corn was also planted with black beans, using two seeds per hill. The corn plants were about 60 cm high. The pumpkin was planted 21 days after the corn, at intervals of 70 cm, the two types alternating in the same row. A total of 85 g each of seed was used. At this altitude these crops take from seven to eight months to be harvested. Soybeans were also planted over 500 m2 to provide the protein/energy ingredient of the high-protein food and also a protein supplement for the chickens and hens included in the model. Each hill received three soybean seeds at intervals of 20 cm with 1 m between rows. A total 21,560 g of seed were used. Various horticultural crops were planted twice in the growing season in 150 m², and in 53 m² a cow-calf combination, 6 hens, and 44 chickens were kept, as well as two orange trees which were there already. Finally, 17 m² were assigned to the production of potatoes. Records were kept of all costs throughout the growing season, as well as of the amounts of milk and eggs produced. All materials harvested were sold and, after completion of the study, the total expenditures were subtracted from all sales and corrected for the money value of foods consumed by the family of five based on the average diet.

TABLE 9. Nutritional value of diet (rat growth assay)^a

a. Cal/100 g: 400-415; protein percentage: 12-13.

The results in table 10 indicate total production of foods from the one hectare of land as well as the amount of food held by the family for consumption. In this first trial some miscalculations were made. The family needed, for example, 87.6 kg of chicken but only 76.4 kg were produced. Although nutritionally this difference can easily be compensated for with milk or eggs, it will be corrected in future trials. Although there is nothing wrong with the land allocated to corn production, this can be reduced for other crops.

TABLE 10. Food produced on 1 ha of land

a. Lettuce, cauliflower , broccoli, squash, radish, güisquil cabbage, carrot.

TABLE 11. Total yield of the horticultural crop

One aspect which is of interest is the very large horticultural crop produced, as shown in table 11. The important point revealed by these tables is that one hectare of land as used can produce almost all the food items in the diet and still leave a surplus to feed other people. In this trial, no records were kept of by-products from the vegetable crops or animals, though these will be taken into consideration in future trials since they can be very useful in the integrated model, for example in the production of biogas and organic fertilizer. Agricultural residues, the primary by-product, can be used as animal feed.

The economic balance of this first trial is shown in table 12. Total expenditure was US$1,679.78, which included the cost of the cow and its calf as well as the feed which had to be purchased in this first year. The sales of the products are also shown in table 12, with a total of $3,149.03. Items providing over 15 per cent of the total income included milk, corn, and the two vegetable harvests. This, of course, could represent a problem for the adoption of the system, since the farmer would certainly prefer to produce crops or products giving him an increased income. The total amounts of food consumed by the family of five amounted to $1,036.70 from all food items produced based on the diet. This left the farmer with a net income of $432.55. This amount is of course low and will not allow him to purchase other food items listed in the diet and the other material things which he would like to purchase for the family. A tentative figure of 3.5 ha was established as more likely to give him a satisfactory income.

TABLE 12. Economic balance of production model (US$)

The trial showed that it was possible to produce from one hectare of land well over 80 per cent of the food items needed by a family of five and to supply the recommended nutrient levels, while respecting the family's dietary habits and providing enough variety for the food to be attractive and palatable. However, in order to make such land so productive requires the farmer to have a certain amount of knowledge and education, access to home economic programmes, help during periods of the growing season, economic resources to purchase the needed starting materials, and markets for his surplus.

The model, though, permits the introduction of many variables and schemes which deserve continuing study. There are, obviously, other activities which could be incorporated into the production system, such as the use of animal excrement for biogas production; this could lead to a reduction in the amount of firewood needed for cooking or food preparation. The excrement could also be used as organic fertilizer for horticultural crop production.

A small fish pond could be introduced and the crop residues, if not incorporated into the soil, could then be fed to ruminants. However, these additional activities should only be introduced more experience is gained on intensive diversified production.

These activities are designed to be undertaken by the male member of the family, but the woman and children in the household probably need to share in the system if it is to be efficient. The woman could look after the small animal components, as she does, in fact, at the present time. Education programmes which teach her such techniques as food preservation at home will also ensure the household a continuous availability of foods that it is not possible to produce during the dry season. In the past the emphasis has been on optimizing the efficiency of various activities and components of the production system, without much consideration of the human factor; the role women can play in optimizing the overall food chain system has been ignored.

During the last 50 years, many solutions have been proposed for the eradication of malnutrition and specific nutritional deficiencies, and a large number of these have a base in integrated agricultural production systems. What remains to be done probably lies more in the social and economic area than in the technical field of agriculture.

REFERENCES

1. M. Flores, M. T. Menchú, M. Y. Lara, and M. Behar, Dieta adecuada de costo mínimo para Guatemala, INCAP Publication E-435 (INCAP, Guatemala City, 1969).

2. M. Flore, "Food Consumption: Levels and Patterns-variation by Geographical Regions and Socio-economic Groups," in H. M. Sinclair, ea., International Encyclopaedia of Food and Nutrition, Food Consumption and Planning, 5: 3 (in press).

3. B. A. Underwood, "Strategies for the Prevention of Vitamin A Deficiency," Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 2: 11-14 (1980).

4. R. Bressani, B. Murillo, and L. G. Elías, "Whole Soybeans as a Means of Increasing Protein and Calories in Maize Based Diets," J. Food Sci., 39: 577 (1974).

5. R. Bressani, J. E. graham, L. G. Elías, R. Cuévas, and M. R. Molina, "Protein Quality of a Whole Corn/Whole Soybean Mixture Processed by a Simple Extruder Cooder," J. Food Sci.. 43: 1563 (1978).

6. R. Bressani, J. E. graham, L. G. Elías, and M. Rublo, "Further Studies on the Enrichment of Lime-treated Corn with Whole Soybeans," J. Food Sci., 44: 1707-1710 (1979).

7. R. Bressani, "El sistema alimentario cereal leguminosa de grano," Interciencia, 4: 254-258 (1979).

8. R. Bressani and E. M. de Villareal, "Nitrogen Balance of Dogs Fed Lime-treated Corn Supplemented with Proteins and Amino Acids," J. Food Sci., 28: 611 -615 (1963).

9. N. De Souza, L. G. Elías, and R. Bressani, "Estudios en ratas, del efecto de una dieta básica del medio rural de Guatemala, suplementada con leche de vaca y una mezcla de proteinas," Arch. Latinoamer. Nutr., 20: 293-307 (1970).

10. J. E. Braham, M. Flores, L. G. Elías, S. de Zaghi and R. Bressani, "Mejoramiento del valor nutritivo de dietas de consume humane. II. Suplementación, con mezcla vegetal INCAP 9 Y leche," Arch. Latinoamer. Nutr., 19: 253-264 (1969).

11. R. Bressani, M. T. Cabezas, and J. E. graham, "The Consumption of Red Meat, Milk and Milk Products in the Americas. Present Status and Future Prospects," Proceedings of XI Inter-American Mooting at the Ministerial Level on Foot and Mouth Disease and Zoonoses Control, April 11-14, 1978, PAHO Scientific Publication, no. 374 (PAHO, Washington, D.C., 1978).

12. R. Bressani and L. G. Elías, "Legume Foods," in A. Altschul, ed., New Protein Foods, vol. 1A (Academic Press, New York, 1974), ch. 5.

13. L. G. Elías, A. Conde, A. Muñóz, and R. Bressani, "Effect of Germination and Maturation on the Nutritive Value of Common Beans (P. vulgaris)," in W.G. Jaffé, ea., Nutritional Aspects of Common Beans and Other Legume Seeds as Animal and Human Foods (SLAN, 1975), pp. 139-152.

14. R. Bressani, R. Gómez Brenes, and L. G. Elías, "Calidad nutritiva de la proteína del gandul tierno y maduro y valor suplementario a los cereales," Arch. Latinoamer. Nutr. (in press).

15. R. Bressani, "Nutritional Goals for Plant Breeders with Particular Reference to Food Legume Research at ICARDA," in D. F. Nygaard and P. L. Pellett, eds., Dry Area Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition Interfaces, proceedings of workshop held at University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria, 21-25 February 1982.

16. R. Bressani, World Needs for Improved Nutrition and the Rob of Vegetables and Legumes, 10th Anniversary of Monograph Series, Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center AVRC Pub. 83185 (AVRC, Shanhua, Taiwan, 1983).

17. FAD/WHO, Protein Requirements, FAO Nutrition Meeting Report Series, no. 37/WHO Technical Report Series, no. 301 (FAO, Rome, 1965).

18. M. M. Spillari Figueroa, "Composición química de diferentes cultivares de hierba mora (Solanum spp.), chipilín (Crotalaria longirostrata) y amaranto (Amaranthus spp.)," thesis (Universidad Rafael Landívar, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales, Guatemala City, 1983).

19. R. Bressani, D. A. Navarete, and L. G. Elías, "The Nutritional Value of Diets Based on Starchy Foods and Common Beans," Qual. Plant. Plant Foods Human Nutr., 34: 109-115 (1984).

20. D. A. Navarete, O. M. Gutiérrez, and R. Bressani, "Digestibilidad valor proteínico y necesidades de proteína de dietas de plátano/frijol y yuca/frijol en jovenes adultos," Arch. Latinoamer. Nutr. (in press).

21. R. Bressani and L. G. Elías, "Estudios nutricionales sobre dietas valor proteínico de mezclas de cereales," INCAP informe anual (INCAP, Guatemala City, 1980), p. 10.

22. E. Ibáñez, "Estudio pare obtener información básica necesaria pare el diseño de un modelo de desarrolo agricola con enfasis en producción de alimentos," M.Sc. thesis (CESNA/INCAP, Guatemala City, 1985).

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