Today world has changed a lot. The people’s way of living also changed. Today we can clearly see the effects of westernisation in day today activities.
Not only lifestyle but also our health and the age of living has decreased. Everyday new and new diseases are discovered. All these because of the unhealthy food and lifestyle.
Due to westernisation all has become expensive. So to maintain our healthy body main thing required is nutrients, protiens which we will get from vegetabales, but if that vegetable itself becomes expensive what to do? You might say that nowadays everything is expensive, yes but have you ever heard of vegetable that is very expensive in the world.
Hop shoots, Humulus lupulus, having common name hop or hops, is a species of flowering plant in the hemp family Cannabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia and North America. It is a perennial climber growing to 6 m (19ft 8in) at a medium rate, living up to 20 years.This vegetable is undoubtedly the most costly crop in the world because of its ample therapeutic and medicinal properties.
This vegetable is proven even to fight cancer cells and can become a blessing for India’s stalling healthcare.
This mightly crop sells for almost Rs. 85,000 in the international market.
Hops shoots are cone-shaped, green-coloured flowers of female hop plants. Hops shoots’ fruit, stems and blossoms used to prepare beverages such as beer, antibiotics, and other medicines. The plant’s bloom, often called strobile or hop-cones, or strobile helps add sweetness to the beverages.
The hop shoots vegetable can eaten when it’s young and green. Since they are bitter yet mild-sweet in taste, they can boiled and added to various recipes such as omelettes or a filler.
Hop shoots are medicinal and have a proven record of treating insomnia, anxiety, and other sleep disorders. It has great results in treating symptoms of restlessness, stress, nervousness, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). It is also helpful in relieving indigestion, types of cancers, high cholesterol, and other medical illnesses.
Hop shoots are well known in European countries for protecting skin in the cold climate as its antioxidants help in skin gleaming.
Hops prefer well-aerated soil that is rich in nutrients and has good drainage. Hops also prefer a soil pH between 6.0-6.5 so the addition of lime may be necessary.
In India Hop shoots were cultivated in Himachal Pradesh. However, the farming was abandoned due to lack of marketing for the produce.
Recently, the story of Amresh Singh, who cultivates hop shoots, which sells for around Rs 1 lakh per kg, became famous. The 38-year-old farmer from Karamdih village in Bihar’s Aurangabad District, cultivated the plant on his 3,600 square feet of farmland. He started growing hop shoots by investing Rs. 2.5 lakh and without using any fertiliser to get the best results.
Normally, hop plants germinate from the soil in March. Hop cultivation is done in regions above 35°N or S latitude and requires a dormant period with 5 to 6 weeks of near-freezing temperatures for its optimal growth. Under the cover of snow, hop crowns can survive temperatures as low as –25°C. Since the stem is weak, poles and wires should be erected to support it. And pruning is required as it becomes more plentiful.
Hops are so expensive because they take around three years to mature before harvest. Moreover, it is a labour-intensive and back-breaking crop.The tiny green tendrils of the plant grow willy-nilly, and the farmers need to crouch and find them. Therefore, a lot of labour is involved – one of the reasons behind the skyrocketing price of hop.