The cultivation of legumes in Lanzarote: “Let's not let it die”

March 31 2021 (15:29 WEST)
Updated in November 8 2024 (07:58 WEST)

Today we want to talk about grains, that is, our lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas and peas. These legumes have been sown in recent years, although less and less, in the sands and sometimes, when the winter has been favorable, also in the jable and in some gavia.

In 2013, the United Nations declared February 10 as "World Pulses Day" with the aim of promoting their consumption, as they are low in fat and sodium, have no cholesterol, are an excellent source of vegetable protein and provide iron; they are also rich in potassium, fiber and vitamins; while enjoying a low glycemic index and do not contain gluten in their natural state. Also, in that declaration it is categorically stated that their cultivation favors the conservation of soils, prevents global warming and increases the food security of countries.

The grains of Lanzarote have always been highly appreciated throughout the Canary Islands for the exquisite taste provided by the soils where they are harvested. This led to the planting of significant quantities in the first decades of the last century, and they were exported, with great success, to supply the markets of Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

In recent years, its cultivation has been following the path of progressive abandonment. To give us an idea of the dimensions of the loss of agricultural land, it is enough to point out that in 2004, just sixteen years ago, 644 hectares were used on the island to harvest cereals and legumes, and last year only 87 hectares were cultivated, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of the Canary Islands.

It is a sad reality to see how every year less grain is planted. The situation has reached such an extreme that if it is not corrected, we will witness its total loss sooner rather than later. In the not too distant future, the only lentils we will eat here will be those that the large food chains sell packaged and advertised "Lanzarote type" although, yes, harvested in Mexico or Canada.

To understand the seriousness of the problem, we must pay attention to two of the unintended consequences that this abandonment is throwing up: on the one hand, the decrease experienced in cultivation obviously reduces our degree of self-sufficiency and, as a consequence, food dependence on the outside increases dangerously. And, on the other hand, if we aspire to sell the island touristically as a sustainable territory in terms of maintaining its landscape, it will be difficult to achieve since legumes barely color it as they did in the past from January to March.

In this situation, the obvious questions would be: do we want to reverse the situation?; or, on the contrary: is it our determined will to passively witness the immediate disappearance of the grains of this island?.

The S.A.T. El Jable, a group of farmers committed to the practice of ecological and sustainable agriculture, proposes various initiatives with the sole purpose of not giving up the battle in the defense of a traditional crop of our land.

Among these measures we highlight the following:

-It is evident that the singularity of the rofe or jable makes it difficult to carry out some tasks such as: sowing, weeding, harvesting, threshing, winnowing and separating. Keep in mind that choosing (work done by hand) two kilos of lentils and depending on how they have been selected requires approximately one hour of work. So: How much would you have to sell the kilo for so that the farmer can receive a fair remuneration for his work? Many will answer that at a price even higher than that reflected in the markets.

 

-The island public administrations have to bet decisively on its recovery, putting the means to facilitate the work of farmers and reduce production costs. This is achieved with the acquisition of agricultural implements adapted to our soils with the aim of making the work of planting, harvesting, threshing and selecting the grains less painful.

In addition, no matter how many tapas fairs, congresses and saborea festivals are held throughout the island's geography, it has not been possible to plant more legumes. Something will have to change. Nor is it intended to not hold these events, what is requested from the Department of Agriculture of the Cabildo is a change in its order of priorities, paying more attention and providing sufficient economic resources to the island's agriculture.

Farmers have been demanding, without any result, the truth, throughout the last legislatures and before the different agriculture ministers of the Cabildo of Lanzarote the purchase of various implements that can be transferred to farmers to alleviate their work in the field.

-The commissioning of the long-demanded seed bank that guarantees the conservation of the different varieties of grains that exist.

-Another of the actions to be carried out is to provide farmers with quality water in sufficient quantity without compromising the soils, in order to cope with dry years, which unfortunately occur quite frequently as a result of climate change.

There are very few farmers left dedicated to planting grains, and they are also the last guardians who guard seeds received in many cases from their ancestors. Urgent action must be taken if we want to continue enjoying a good lentil stew, savor some chickpeas or eat a compound of local peas.

Lanzarote legumes cannot disappear, because we would lose part of our cultural heritage in addition to what heritage as a people we are going to leave to those who come after us.

 

The island's public officials are obliged - today more than ever - to heed the plea of a farmer from Teseguite who implored days ago: "Let's not let the cultivation of grains die"

 

 

 

Signed by SAT EL JABLE.

 
 
 
 
Most read