India the land of rich flora, comprising of a number of plant species ranging from foods, ornaments to medicines. These plant species are available in India since ancient times and has lots of significance and importance. These plant species are grown and cultivated in all parts of the country, according to climatic conditions favorable for the growth. They also offer a platform for industries, whether big or small to get raw materials and generate money as well. Some of the plant species known for food such as Wheat (Triticum aestivum), Rice (Oryza sativa), Barely (Hordeum vulgare), Ragi (Eleusine coracana) and medicinal species include Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Safed Moosli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Amla (Emblica officinalis) and much more.
Ragi one of the most important plant species comes under the category of cereals. It is also known as finger millet, African finger millet, red millet, caracan millet, koracan, Mandika, Marawah, Mandua, Muthari, Kelvaragu, Keppai, Chodi. The botanical name of Ragi is Eleusine coracana and its belong to the Kingdom Plantae, Family Poaceae and Genus Eleusine. It is an annual plant known mostly in the form of cereals and is native to Africa and Asia. In India it was grown for 4000 years ago and cultivated mainly in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and other states. Karnataka is the largest producer of Ragi in India and a total of approximately 58%. It is also the main food of Karnataka as well. It is a highly nutritious food having a rich source of calcium.
Characteristics of Ragi Plant
- It is an annual cereal plant of 0.3 m i.e. (1 ft).
- The plant also bears roots, stem, leaves, pinnacles, spikelets and grains
- It has a fibrous root system which is shallow and branched.
- Stems are elliptic, slender, erect, compressed, glabrous, smooth and green in color.
- The plant has a large number of leaves arranged alternately on either side and are of green color.
- The structure of the leaves is distichous, simple and entire.
- The pinnacles are born at the end of the shoot and are about 24 cm, having 60-80 spikelets.
- The pinnacles are of four types, namely top-curved, the in-curved, the open and the fisty.
- The spikelets are ovoid-ellipsoid, of about 10 mm length.
- The grains are globose and smooth in origin.
Ragi is the richest source of calcium, minerals (such as iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous), fibers and vitamins (such as β- Carotene, niacin, vitamin B6). Apart from these Ragi is also has phytochemicals (such as polyphenols, tannins, phytosterols) and antioxidants.
Uses and Health Benefits of Ragi
Being a nutritive plant it offers a number of health benefits. Some of the benefits offered by Ragi are listed below
- Helpful in weight loss
- Helpful in Increasing bone strength
- It is helpful in controlling diabetes
- Helpful in reducing the level of Cholesterol
- Helpful in promoting relaxation
- Helpful in treating Anemia
- Promotes digestion
- Increases lactation in mothers
- Prevents Skin Aging
- Helpful in preventing anxiety and depression
- Promoting the release of growth hormones
- Helpful in preventing a number of heart diseases
- It also posses antimicrobial properties, thus useful in curing fever and skin infections
- It also possess anticancer properties.
Rather than medicinal benefits it is used to prepare a variety of foods which are very tasty and healthy. Some of the food prepared by Ragi is listed below.
Ragi Roti
Ragi Malt
Ragi Soup
Ragi Upma
Ragi Idli
Thanks for reading the blog. After studying the blog one can come to know about Ragi about its origin, benefits and uses.