Article 5: BBC News
This article discusses the potential for bananas to eventually replace potatoes in certain countries.
summary:
This article shares that bananas could soon replace the potatoe. Potatoes are typically grown in cooler climates, so in warmer, more tropical regions they are not as practical to grow. As stated in the article, developing countries will no longer consider wheat, rice, and maize as essential and important crops. Bananas grow much easier and allow room for more varieties of bananas in these tropical countries. Although potatoes are currently an important part of our diets, researchers are encouraging tropical countries to be open-minded to the change and to learn to find new meals using their new crops. Not only will the potatoe be replaced, but also the soya which is grown in Sub-Saharan Africa may also be replaced by the cowpea. Cowpea has several uses: to feed animals, and as food for us. It is much more reasonable than soya because it is "drought-tolerant and prefers warmer weather". Another reason why developing countries are moving away from rice, wheat, and maize is because the prices on those crops are expected to rise. Finding alternatives is a much easier and cost-efficient solution. For example, in South Asia, many are considering replacing the potatoe with cassava due to its tolerance with changes in climate. All of these studies are very recent, and the developing countries are still adjusting to the ideas and learning more about these more reasonable and efficient alternatives.
OPinion:
This article was very interesting to me because it had never occurred to me that rice, wheat, and maize were not as cost-efficient as other crops. I typically think these particular crops are grown in more tropical countries, without understanding they are quickly experiencing an increase in cost. I was also unaware that potatoes are not the most flexible crop when dealing with climate changes because they grow best in cooler locations. Agricultural organizations conducted studies and determined that growing crops such as cassava and cowpea would be easier and cheaper to grow in tropical areas. I was unaware of these crops,especially soya. Because these developing countries are lined closer to the equator, their temperatures stay tropical almost year-round and they need to grow crops susceptible to change. I think it is very important for countries in Asia and parts of Africa to be aware of the conditions in which specific crops need to grow and for them to be willing to make changes. I also agree it is very important for the people living in these areas to adjust and adapt to change in their diets when preparing cultural meals.
Cassava: the starchy tuberous root of a tropical tree, used as food in tropical countries but requiring careful preparation to remove traces of cyanide from the flesh
Cowpea: a tropical plant producing long pods containing edible pealike seeds; grown for animal fodder and sometimes as human food
Volatile: easily evaporated at normal temperatures
Marginal: arid or generally inhospitable land
Soya: British term for soy or soybean
Cowpea: a tropical plant producing long pods containing edible pealike seeds; grown for animal fodder and sometimes as human food
Volatile: easily evaporated at normal temperatures
Marginal: arid or generally inhospitable land
Soya: British term for soy or soybean