Chiang Rai’s Rajabhat University Promotes Inca Seed as Economic Crop for Thai Farmers

 

CHIANG RAI – Rajabhat University and Thailand’s Department of Economic Development, Energy and Environment  in Chiang Rai are determined to turn sacha inchi, aka Inca seed, into an economic crop for Thailand.

Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, together with the Institute of Economic Development, Energy and Environment and its allies, is hosting an exhibition titled “Din Dao, Thin Dao Fa” educating the public and the government sector about the health benefits of Inca nuts. Chiang Rai hopes to promote sacha inchi as one of the main economic crops of Thailand.

The mountain nuts are high in protein and are very rich in essential fatty acids omega-3, omega-6 and non-essential omega-9.

The exhibition is being held at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University from now until March 30th, 2019.

According to the director of the Institute of Economic Development, Energy and Environment, Sutthiporn Thanetsakulwattana, the exhibition serves as a learning center that teaches local students, the general public and those interested about the healthy nuts which can also be an alternative for farmers looking for extra income.

Sacha inchi is a perennial plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. Although its raw seeds and leaves contain toxins, these components are safe for consumption after roasting. The roasted seeds can be consumed as nuts, and roasted leaves chewed or made into a tea.

By Thammarat Thadaphrom