Context:
Recently, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) said that the deaths of elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve could have been caused by “mycotoxins associated with kodo millet”.
Relevance:
Facts for prelims
About Kodo millet:
- Kodo millet Paspalum scrobiculatum is often called Kodra and Varagu in India.
- It is one of the “hardiest crops, drought tolerant with high yield potential and excellent storage properties,” It contains vitamins and minerals.
- It is being a staple food for lots of tribal and economically weak sections in India.
Required climatic condition
- Tropical and subtropical regions are the most suitable for Kodo millet.
- It is grown in poor soils and is found widely in arid and semi-arid regions.
- Origin: India and Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of this crop according to a research paper in 2020. Except MP, the millet is cultivated in Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
- The crop is cultivated in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa.
- According to the research paper, “CPA (Cyclopiazonic acid) is one of the major mycotoxins associated with the kodo millet seeds causing kodo poisoning which was first recognised during the mid-eighties”.
- Kodo poisoning occurs primarily through the ingestion of kodo grains, when “maturing and harvesting if the grains had exposed to rain, which caused a fungal infection that resulted in ‘poisoned kodo’ locally known as ‘Matawna Kodoo’ or ‘Matona Kodo’ in northern India.”
- Kodo poisoning generally targets the nervous and cardiovascular system, and major signs and symptoms are “vomiting, giddiness and unconsciousness, small and rapid pulse, cold extremities, shaking of limbs and tremors”.
-Source: The Hindu
