2013 international year of quinoa

Quinoa is known worldwide for its nutritional value

The Organization of the United Nations (UN) declared, in the General Assembly, the year of 2013 as the international year of the quinoa, in recognition of the Andean people who cultivated it, and for the nutritional qualities of this cereal.

Quinoa is a reliable source of iron, fiber, magnesium, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. According to nutritionist Wilma Salgado 185 grams (one cup) of cooked quinoa provides 15% of the recommended daily intake of iron while consuming 5 grams contributes 21% of the suggested amount of fiber.

Chimborazo province has the highest percentage of production of this cereal in Ecuador, there are 700 cultivated hectareas of the 2000 that exist at national level. For this reason, the Ministry of agriculture, livestock, aquaculture and fisheries (Magap) yesterday chose this province as the venue for the official launch of the international year of the quinoa, Ecuador chapter.

The Minister of agriculture, Javier Ponce, announced that Ecuador aims to cultivate 10,000 hectares of quinoa so it can contribute to the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

In Ecuador, the provinces with greater capacity to grow quinoa are Carchi, Imbabura, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Bolivar and Cañar

According to specialists, quinoa consumption is beneficial to health, because it contains eight amino acids, iron and folic acid, which has become a key ally in the fight against anemia and also helps to strengthen the body.