RAWALPINDI: Agricultural experts have successfully cultivated stevia (sugar) plant in 12 districts of Punjab, which will lead to its commercialisation.
Stevia Project Director Hafiz M Akram stated this while speaking at the Stevia Kissan Mela at a forest training school in Murree.
Ayub Agriculture Research Institute (AARI) Director Agronomy Abdul Sattar, Pakistan Agriculture Research Board (PARB) Executive Member Makhdoom Abdul Jabbar, Agricultural Information Assistant Director Rawalpindi Babar Latif Baloch and a large number of farmers were present on the occasion.
Akram said the experimental phase of stevia plant had been successfully completed in 12 districts of Punjab and now they were planning for its commercialisation.
“Stevia is a complete and natural substitute of sugar,” he said. “It is 15 times sweeter than sugar and its extracts are 300 times sweeter than sugar.”
Stevia leaves were examined by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research at its laboratory and 30% protein and 53% carbohydrates along with other nutrients were found.
Agricultural experts explained that farmers could earn a net profit of Rs470,000 per acre annually from stevia cultivation at the commercial level. Its leaves also contain calcium which can help in children’s growth.
The speakers stressed that stevia cultivation was becoming the need of the hour to meet sugar demand from a growing population. South Korean and Malaysian companies had expressed interest in stevia cultivation, processing, packaging and exports, they said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (6)
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As a grower of Sugar Cane which is definitely not a healthy food I am most interested in an alternative crop. I will be enthusiastic about growing crops that produce a healthy sugar substitute.
I am reading about stevia since last five years. It has negitive effects on undernoruished/ under food consuming poor populations--Pakistani population may suffer in long run much below health standards,common health suffering by population will carry thoiroid disorder's weak muscles low stemina swalon stomach. Stevia can be used with due understanding of balance nutritional dietry,it is regular learning by the consumer's.May be farming can be good if ensured export order's exist, other wise pmln leader's may be attempting encroachment access to harm Pakistni population by creating monopoly on it as already they succeded in number of consumer items.
Regards, Tariq Rahmani
Jaleel sb , Nawaz Brothers are working on how make money. Go Nawaz Go
@Asif Jamal: Natural stevia has 0 calories, 0 carbs, and a 0 glycemic index. Whole leaf stevia concentrate regulates blood sugar and nourishes the pancreas. It has even been used to treat type 2 diabetes in South America. However, the powder extract does of retain the same nutrition. SweetLeaf stevia, I understand is the only one that retains all 3 of stevia's natural 0 calorie, 0 carb, and 0 glycemic index properties. The powdered extracts must contain some sort of bulking agent since the extract is 300 times sweeter than sugar, but some contain maltodextrin and/or dextrose, which are sugars with high glycemic index of at least 100. SweetLeaf uses inulin fiber in its powder extract. The bottom line is stevia is a good sweetener for diabetics, but check the ingredients to see what else is added to the stevia. For more information on natural stevia without any promotion if any stevia product go to http://steviauniversity.com
All the best!
(Employed by Wisdom Natural Brands, SweetLeaf Stevia)
Way to go Punjab government. These small things are the reason I vote for PMLn. They are simultaneosuly working on multiple fronts. Ro imran ro:)
Stevia is also presented as a sugar substitute for diabetics. Would someone shed light on this?