There is a competition among the farmers of the country for the production of black wheat. Don't know how many farmers are coming forward to sow black wheat and want to buy and sow its seeds at throwaway prices. Many farmers had booked their seeds when the crop was ripe and ready. And now they are preparing to sow. Those who have not been able to get black wheat seeds available, they are buying its seeds at manifold prices. Many farmers are taking its seeds by paying 3 to 4 times higher price, whereas normal wheat is being sold in the market at an average price of Rs 1,600 to 1,800 per quintal. But due to sheep movement, black wheat has started selling in the market at a price of Rs 6,000 to 7,000 per quintal. It is to be noted here that for the last few years, the farmers producing black wheat are not flourishing. At the same time, in the absence of information, black wheat is being told nutritious. At the same time, talk of doubling the income of farmers has also been started, while according to the scientists of Directorate of Wheat, Barley Research, Karnal, no variety of black wheat has been released in the country. The black wheat that farmers are producing is a carrier of many diseases along with yellowish brown roli. Regarding the nutritional value of black wheat, it neither has more protein nor is the amount of iron and zinc higher than normal wheat varieties. Its chapati is also said to be tasteless. Due to the black wheat chapati being black in appearance, people do not like to eat it much. It is also worth noting here that to know the truth of black wheat, scientists of the Directorate of Wheat Research have done research. In this research of the institute, no more nutritious properties have been found in black wheat as compared to normal wheat variety. Director of the institute Dr. Gyanendra Pratap Singh told that the productivity and quality of black wheat is weaker than normal wheat. They also say that no variety of black wheat has been issued by any agricultural institute in the country. In such a situation, the question arises that if the seeds of black wheat came to the farmers, then from where did it come? Who is busy promoting it by calling it bio fortified? Now it is also to be noted that due to not having much quality in this wheat, how it is being taken so far. It is to be noted here that the seed of any new variety has been made available to the farmers only after it is notified by the Government of India, whereas till now in the history no variety of black wheat has been notified by the Government of India. Nor is the seed of this being sold by government institutions and recognized institutions, so farmers need to be careful that till they are provided with government approved seeds, such seeds and misleading publicity should be avoided.
Benefits of black wheat on social media
After the media report regarding wheat, on the instructions of Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, Directorate of Wheat, Barley Research conducted trials on varieties of black wheat for 2 years from the year 2018 and 2019. During testing, the productivity of black wheat was found to be much lower than that of normal wheat variety. Also, outbreaks of many diseases have also been seen in this variety. Dr. Gyanendra Singh, the principal investigator of the trial of black wheat, said that research work is being done on this wheat in his institute. According to media reports, black wheat has been developed by the National Institute of Agricultural Food Technology, Nabi, located in Mohali, Punjab. Nabi also has a patent for this. Now the question arises that how did this institute reach the seeds of black wheat variety to the farmers without the notification of the Government of India.
Small farmers also have a financial burden
In order to increase income, small and marginal farmers are eager to cultivate black wheat, but the farmers do not know that there is no buyer of black wheat in the agricultural produce markets. In such a situation, small and marginal farmers need to act wisely. The situation should not be such that they stay at home or at the ghat. It is worth mentioning that small and marginal farmers of the state have 4 to 5 bighas of agricultural holdings. In such a situation, farmers have also cultivated black wheat by buying expensive seeds, but due to not being sold in the market, they may suffer financial loss. I am getting good demand and getting reasonable price. They should not sow such crops, which are very difficult to sell.
What is the nutritional value
After research conducted in the lab, it has been found that wheat, barley has also been conducted in Directorate of Research, Karnal on the nutritional and quality of black wheat. According to Dr. Sevaram, the scientist of the institute, some such elements have not come to the fore in the quality test of black wheat, from which it can be said that there is ample amount of nutritious elements available in black wheat. They believe that the amount of other nutrients including protein, iron and zinc in black wheat has been found to be much less than the normal wheat varieties.
Publicity on social media regarding black wheat
Various claims are being made about wheat since last year, but these claims are far from reality. Due to this, the cost of farmers is increasing. At the same time, consumers are also suffering financial loss due to lack of information. In such a situation, along with the farmers of the state, the media persons and speakers also need to act wisely and the media people will also have to work to bring the reality to the common people. Farmers are being misled about black wheat. No variety of black wheat has been notified for the farmers of the country. No special nutrients have also been found in it. Not only this, research has been done about black wheat at IIT WVR, Karnal, in which all three varieties have not been able to meet the quality standards. Research is still going on on this. If this variety is found to be good in nutritional value, then it will certainly be informed to the farmers in the future, but in the research so far, it has not been found to have any more nutritional properties than the common wheat variety.