‘Go Home, Plant Camote!’ Despised, Lowly Camote May Save Us From Hunger

When we were in the elementary grades in village public schools, our teachers would often derisively tell our not-so-bright classmates to “Go home and plant Camote.”
Parang ang ibig sabihin, kung bugok ka, mapapakinabangan ka lang ng bansa kung magtanim ka ng Camote.
The low-regard for Camote is also expressed in the general Filipino belief that if one is in a tight and difficult situation he is described as “Nangangamote.”
But there are so many things that we don’t even know about this despised root crop.
First, Camote is not endemic to the Philippines. It actually came from South America where it had been cultivated by the Indians as early as 5,000 years ago and brought to the Philippines through the Galleon Trade with Mexico.
From the Philippines, it was brought to Fujian Province in China in 1594 following a massive crop failure.
Here is what wikipedia says about Camote’s arrival in the Philippines:
“Sweet potatoes were first introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period (1521-1598) via the Manila galleons, along with other New World crops. It was introduced to the Fujian province of China in about 1594 from Luzon, in response to a major crop failure. The growing of sweet potatoes was encouraged by the Governor Chin Hsüeh-tseng (Jin Xuezeng).
“Sweet potatoes were also introduced to the Ryukyu Kingdom, present-day Okinawa, Japan, in the early 1600s by the Portuguese. Sweet potatoes became a staple in Japan because they were important in preventing famine when rice harvests were poor. Aoki Konyō helped popularize the cultivation of the sweet potato in Japan, and the Tokugawa bakufu sponsored, published, and disseminated a vernacular Japanese translation of his research monograph on sweet potatoes to encourage their growth more broadly. Sweet potatoes were planted in Shōgun Tokugawa Yoshimune’s private garden. It was first introduced to Korea in 1764. Kang P’il-ri and Yi Kwang-ryŏ embarked on a project to grow sweet potatoes in Seoul in 1766, using the knowledge of Japanese cultivators they learned in Tongnae starting in 1764. The project succeeded for a year but ultimately failed in the winter of 1767 after Kang’s unexpected death.”
While it is looked down as a crop which when eaten results in noisy flatulence, Camote’s leaves and tubers are nutritious and even medicinal.
The leaves contain Vitamins A, C, K, B1, B2, B3, B9; Minerals Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Manganese and Copper.
Camote leaves or Talbos ng Kamote are also said to possess the following health benefits: Anti-Diabetes, Helps in Heart Health, Anti-mutagenic and Antioxidant, Anticoagulant, Enhances Eye Health, Anti-bacterial and Helps in Bone Health.
Camote tubers also contain B vitamins, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Thiamin.
So, if you are bright and brilliant, the best thing to do now is to “Go Home and Plant Camote!”😀
#timetoplantnow!
#farmisthebestlaboratory!