The reason: It is protein-packed and is thus a good food for adults.
Consider: The whole seed, dry splits, and green vegetable pigeon pea have as much as 22.2 percent protein, which is the major component of a body’s cells. Morever, 100 grams of dry kadyos seeds contain 296 milligams calcium and 6.7 milligams iron.
Health experts, as documented by the India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), say that adults need 0.37 gram of protein per pound of body weight, but people would need more protein as they age.
Plant sources of protein may often be deficient in essential amino acids (chief component of protein) but these deficiencies can be overcome by consuming a wide variety of plant foods, among them pigeon pea, they added.
Thus, pointed out ICRISAT principal pigeon pea breeder Dr. K.B. Saxona, health buffs on high protein diet need not only rely on meat and dairy products: Legumes (among them pigeon pea) are good alternative protein-rich food.
Morever, pigeon pea is also good for goats, cattle, and rabbit, Sarena said during a seminar held recently at the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) in Los Baños, Laguna.
He found in his studies that the fresh green forage and seed meal of pigeon pea contain high crude protein and crude fiber and fat.
Owing to pigeon pea’s potentials, ICRISAT has been promoting the production of this drought-resistant crop in developing countries, including the Philippines.
In collaboration with PCARRD and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DAR-BAR), ICRISAT is conducting a research in Batac, Ilocos Norte; Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Ilagan, Isabela; and Muños, Nueva Ecija.
Recently, the "First Pigeon Pea Festival" was held at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac to generate more interest in this promising "underutilized" food crop.
Among those present during the festival were ICRISAT director general Dr. William Dar (former DA acting secretary), Dr. Sarena, commission on Higher Education (CHED) commissioner Dr. Saturnino Ocampo Jr., DA-BAR director Nicanor P. Eleasar, MMSU president Dr. Miriam Pascua, MMSU vice president R. Heraldo Layasen (pigeon pea project leader), DA-BAR consultant Dr. Santiago B. Obien, CHED executive director William Medrano, PCARRD crops research division director Dr. Jay Eusebio, and Banna (Ilocos Norte) mayor Carlito Abadilla.
During the festival, the first pigeon pea crop out of the seeds provided by ICRISAT early this year was harvested. Seeds of the elite pigeon pea variety were also ceremonially presented to farmers. – Rudy A. Fernandez