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V.I. pupils have developed a revolutionary food product derived from the inner stems of the banana plant which can be turned into a palatable porridge to feed starving millions in the Third World and overcome the problem of malnutrition. They are hoping to alert the government and the United Nations to their discovery. Mr V. Ganespathy, Head of the Science Department in the V.I., said that the porridge, containing proteins and carbohydrates in the form of starch and sugar, was tasty and was also rich in Vitamins A, B1, B2 and C. Yap Hoong Huat, leader of the six-member research team comprising one Fourth Former and five Sixth Formers from the school’s Nature Society, said that the members were inspired after reading a magazine article on how a Philippine institution was experimenting with dried bananas and grated coconut residue for its process. Guided by their teachers, the Victorians did their research experiments after school hours and on Saturdays. The V.I. Headmaster, Encik Abdul Rahim Abdul Majid congratulated the students for their achievement. A local company has shown keen interest in manufacturing and marketing the product and is awaiting patent rights approval. Contributed by: Loh Kok Kin lkk_dennis2@gmail.com |