We Will Open the Furrows with Our Hands
February 14, 2011, 5:30 pm  

By Raul Estrada
estrada@enet.cu
Translation by Ernesto Gutierrez Pino

Las Tunas.- A few hours ago I participated in a scientific meeting aimed at promoting the cultivation and use of sorghum as a food source for celiac children, whose body does not tolerate any derived product from wheat, oats, barley and rye.

The event took place at Vladimir Ilich Lenin University, in Las Tunas city and was attended by scientists and farmers, who exchanged with the 17 children and four adults who suffer from the disease in this territory.

The participants swore that they will open the furrows with their hands for the happiness of those children, if necessary.

So far most of the researches carried out worldwide to find the most suitable cereal to feed celiac people point to sorghum as the main alternative.

Doctor Orlando Saucedo, a senior researcher at the Universidad Central de Las Villas, in Villa Clara province, leads a multidisciplinary team that has advanced in Cuba in this regard.

The scientist said this event is part of an investigation of high social impact for the whole country and will include soon the provinces of Havana, Las Tunas and Villa Clara.

So that the idea germinates as quickly and accurately as possible, the same day of the opening ceremony there was a demonstration of planting of sorghum on the farm Los Pastores, in the municipality of Majibacoa, not far from this city.

Danellis Perez who presides in Las Tunas the association of celiac Cubans felt joy, because "the children are happy. They have never eaten cookies and thanks to the efforts of many people that promote sorghum flour as an alternative, they could taste a cake. This will be an unforgettable day for all of them and for us... ".

Creative and enthusiastic as ever, Dr. Raquel Ruz, a professor at the University of Las Tunas and coordinator of the Local Agricultural Project immediately proposed a workshop, starting from a recipe given by the specialists from Villa Clara to teach moms and dads to make different dishes with sorghum.

Dr. Orlando Saucedo traveled to Las Tunas accompanied by Lourdes Fernandez, researcher fellow at the Universidad Central de Las Villas, who also lectured on the benefits of sorghum for human and animal.

Dr. Saucedo said that "as a researcher, I am very optimistic because in the near future we are going to achieve important results for the wellbeing of these sick children."