Mr. Negi has personally turned the barren land in the cold desert of Himachal Pradesh into a green oasis. (Source: YouTube) In 1977, the Government of India began an ambitious program to reduce the negative effects of desertification in the hot and cold deserts of this Asian country. Mr. Anand Dhawaj Negi was working in the finance department in charge of the Desert Development Program at the time and had seen millions of dollars spent with no real results. Whenever he asked the scientists and program officials about the results, the answer was always that they lacked the technology to grow any sustainable crops in harsh environments. desert . The son of a farmer himself, Negi was tired of excuses and took a leave of absence in 1999 to fix the problem himself. In 2003, he decided to quit his job to focus all of his energy on his growing desert oasis. Mr. Negi has personally turned the barren land in the cold desert of Himachal Pradesh into a green oasis just for everyone, especially the farmer struggling in the region, seeing desert reclamation as entirely possible. It was not an easy thing to do, but the former official knew what he had to do and had the ambition and patience to get through it. Mr. Negi’s first attempt failed as the seeds did not have enough water to grow. He overcame this first challenge by planting by contour, tilling the soil along a consistent height to capture rainwater and reduce soil erosion. At the same time he works with the local community to create irrigation canal The shallows channel runoff from glaciers about 25km away. After witnessing this process, the local irrigation department also began to cooperate. “The irrigation department supplies water to this area. Before that, water was not provided until before June. I connected to the Kuhls area and managed to get a water supply in April and May. When we did, the Irrigation Department also cooperated and ensured a regular water supply here,” Mr. Negi told Down to Earth. But water is just one of the challenges this frigid desert region poses. Sandy soil lacking nutrients is another problem. To provide enough nutrients for the crops he wanted to grow, Mr. Negi started a farm with about 300 Chigu goats and mixed their manure with earthworms to effectively double the nitrogen content of the soil. . This also helps the clover hectares he planted around the oasis to thrive. In the past, clover would fade away as new plants grew. It was the clover growing area that overcame the problem Mr. Negi had at first, a rodent attack. These species will come to eat the delicious plants, so the farmer must plant clover in the legume family around the more valuable crops. Because hares love clover, when there is an abundance of this plant, they don’t bother with other plants. Since starting his job in Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Negi has spent all his money experimenting with combining local farming techniques with more scientific farming methods. It’s a laborious process, but over time the tree mortality rate drops from about 85% to just 1%. After proving that valuable crops such as peas, potatoes, green beans, apples and apricots could be grown even in harsh desert environments, the former official began to focus on long-lasting greenery. years, as he considers them essential to combat climate change in the region. “My first priority here is reforestation. Fake acacia is the most planted. Then there are willows and wild apricots. As for fruit trees and other crops, including green beans, I planted them only as a model for people to replicate,” said Mr. Negi. With just the help of two volunteers, Mr. Anand Dhawaj Negi transformed a cold desert area of ​​more than 90 hectares into a green oasis, receiving praise from both locals and scientists. People come from far and wide to witness this real-life miracle, some buying Negi’s natural fertilizer to grow their own crops and others bringing their livestock to eat clover, the fodder for livestock. cattle are considered the best in the region. Mr. Anand Dhawaj Negi has turned a cold desert area of ​​more than 90 hectares into a green oasis. Sadly, Anand Dhawaj Negi, the desert healer, passed away last month at the age of 74 from a stroke. He will be remembered as a local hero and the green oasis project hopes to be preserved as a reminder that nothing is impossible. Negi’s family intends to continue his work, but has asked the government to take responsibility for the oasis and help the family in its conservation. Virender Sappa Negi, Mr. Negi’s wife, told The Better India news site: ‘Before he said goodbye to us, he planned to plant some evergreen or conifers such as pines and deciduous trees. We want to fulfill these last wishes of his. In addition, we want the state government to take responsibility for this oasis so that his work can inspire future generations.” Anand Dhawaj Negi has become one of the many Indian legends who devoted their lives to afforestation like Uttarakhan’s “Tree Man” or Aditya and Poonam Singh.

Appetizers, snacks to help prevent colds in the rainy season Meal 1: Strawberry + spinach salad Salad Strawberry and spinach salad This salad may be light on calories, but heavy on nutritional content. Although spinach does not have significant amounts of zinc, it does provide the body with iron – another essential mineral. This is an interesting thing to note because when spinach is served with strawberries – one of the fruits with the most vitamin C – this combination allows the iron to be absorbed more quickly. That’s because vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron – which is also important for the immune system and maintaining energy levels because it makes hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is another name for red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Meal 2: Chickpeas + tomato salad Salad of chickpeas, tomatoes and some other vegetables Did you know that a serving with half a cup of chickpeas provides 2g of resistant starch? In addition to being packed with fiber, healthy fats, and a bit of protein, chickpeas also have zinc. The combination of a legume family member with a vitamin C counterpart, a fresh berry tomato, makes for a great salad. In addition to their juicy taste, tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which not only gives the red pigment but also has antioxidant-like properties that may help fight cancer. Meal 3: Cauliflower + cashews Broccoli (broccoli) baked or boiled, fried will be more interesting and nutritious when sprinkled with cashews Have you ever thought of this combination? Cauliflower contains a significant amount of vitamins, while cashews contain zinc. Not only does zinc keep your immune system strong like a warrior, but it also promotes collagen production, which helps form hair, skin, and nails. Try adding cashews to steamed cauliflower! Dish 4: Chocolate dipped cherry Chocolate-dipped cherry desserts will surely be loved by children, and also help increase resistance in the rainy season It would be a big mistake not to mention this dessert, especially since dark chocolate is chock full of zinc and one of the best foods to prevent colds. A 100g chocolate bar (about 9.6mg of zinc) provides women with more than 100% of their daily mineral needs, but does not meet men’s needs of 11mg. Cherries are full of vitamin C, especially acerola or barbados cherries, which contain a large amount of 134% vitamin C. Meal 5: Kale salad (kale) + pumpkin seeds When you cook dishes with pumpkin, keep the seeds, roast them for salads! Kale is lauded in the vegetable world with good reason. Not only does this cruciferous vegetable give you an insane amount of vitamin K (more than 1,000%, in case you wonder), but it also provides 80mg of vitamin C, more than 100% of your daily intake. Pumpkin seeds are also high in nutrients, most notably zinc. Enjoy this nutrient-dense salad with wild salmon and you’ve got a complete meal. Dish 6: Spicy papaya salad + crab meat + bean sprouts Thai style salad not only stimulates the taste buds but also provides many vitamins and minerals for the body Women need 8mg of zinc per day and men need 11mg to ensure adequate testosterone production. Crab meat is rich in zinc, one crab can meet more than half of a woman’s need for zinc. Bean sprouts also add a little extra to the dish. And sweet, spicy papaya sauce will provide a dose of vitamin C for this Thai-style salad. Dish 7: Sweet potato + grilled garlic If you have sweet potatoes in your kitchen, and you find yourself sniffling a bit because of a cold, don’t forget this wonderful remedy! Sweet potatoes not only provide vitamin C, but also contain large amounts of beta-carotene – another antioxidant that helps fight heart disease, cancer and countless chronic diseases. To make the dish more strange, garlic contributes a good amount of zinc, vitamin B6 and magnesium. This spice also has good detoxifying properties. Making: Peel sweet potatoes, cut into long strips. Crush garlic cloves. Arrange sweet potatoes and garlic on a tray, place in the oven. If you have a charcoal stove, baked sweet potatoes will be even more delicious. Main dishes increase resistance, prevent colds in the rainy season Dish 8: Beef stew with potatoes With beef and potatoes, you can add carrots and tomatoes to make a delicious ragu that goes great with bread. Beef may not be classified as a superfood, but just 85g of beef can provide 7mg of zinc, almost fulfilling the need of 8mg/day for women (not pregnant). Meanwhile, potatoes are rich in vitamin C. This duo will “double sword match” in a delicious stew, increasing the body’s resistance. Dish 9: Grilled Pork + Stir-Fried Broccoli with Shiitake Shiitake mushrooms can be processed into countless delicious and nutritious cold-preventing dishes, providing you with zinc minerals Speaking of meat, pork is another great source of zinc, although the content isn’t as impressive as beef. Shiitake mushrooms (shiitake mushrooms) not only add delicious flavor to dishes, but 1 cup of mushrooms also provides 1.9mg of zinc. Broccoli provides a huge amount of vitamin C, 42mg half a cup to be exact, about 70% of your daily vitamin C needs. On cold rainy days, grilling a few slices of pork, served with sautéed broccoli, shiitake mushrooms (or steamed if you don’t like stir-frying), sounds delicious, don’t you think! Dish 10: Grilled chicken + mango salsa You can serve grilled chicken with fruit salsa with brown rice, noodles, pasta… Chicken contains 2.4mg of zinc per 85g of meat, and just one cup (128g) of ripe, juicy mango provides about 60mg of vitamin C. That’s 100% of the daily requirement for antioxidants! You can also add some other vegetables to make the grilled chicken more perfect. Ingredients (for 4 servings – about 400 calories) 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts 2 teaspoons olive oil A little salt and chili powder 1 cup ripe mango cut into cubes 1 cup cubed butter 1 green lemon squeezed juice ½ cup diced red bell pepper ¼ cup chopped coriander (coriander) Processing Heat the grill over medium heat. Drizzle olive oil over chicken breasts, sprinkle with chili powder and salt for flavor. Grill the chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. While the chicken is grilling, put the mixture of mango, avocado, red bell pepper, and coriander in a bowl. Mix lemon juice with a little salt, pour into the bowl of vegetables. Remove the grilled chicken to a plate, top with salsa. Course 11: Pasta with tomato and red bell pepper With this pasta dish, you can use it with beef, chicken, shiitake… If you do a lot of cardio like running or swimming, you need to fuel up with a decent amount of carbs. On wet, rainy days, you need to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C and zinc because running or swimming in cold weather can make you more susceptible to colds. Tomatoes contain zinc, while red bell peppers contain a large amount of vitamin C. This pasta dish is both delicious and helps you increase your resistance. Course 12: Lobster + Asparagus The combination of asparagus and lobster makes a great cold-preventing dish to prevent colds 85g of cooked lobster provides about 32% of your daily protein needs, and contains an adequate amount of zinc and vitamin B12. Asparagus provides a bit of vitamin C. The combination of asparagus and lobster makes a great cold-preventing dish to prevent colds. So if you need an excuse to dine like royalty, here’s one! Meal 13: Stir-fried oysters with pork and Brussels sprouts (tiny cabbage) With three ingredients: oysters, pork, and Brussels sprouts, you can also make oyster porridge, served with finely chopped sprouts mixed with pork salad! Stir-fried oyster meat with spices will taste better, and just eating 6 oysters (raw) provides women with 400% of their daily zinc needs. In addition, 4 cooked Brussels sprouts provide 108% of your daily vitamin C needs. However, you should not eat a lot of Brussels sprouts because it can cause bloating. Dish 14: Tuna “poké bowl” + purple cabbage and black sesame This Hawaiian style snack turns out to have a lot of health benefits Poké (pronounced as poh-kay) is a dish originating from Hawaii, meaning “slices”, derived from the habit of cutting slices of fresh fish caught from the sea to prepare snacks. native. Called “poké bowl” because this dish is usually served in a bowl, with the main ingredients being salmon, tuna mixed with soy sauce, served with rice sprinkled with sesame seeds, mixed with butter, ginger … One serving is about 150 calories, low in fat but high in protein and zinc. Black sesame seeds are not just for decorating dishes. Just ¼ cup provides 25% of the daily zinc requirement for women. Meanwhile, purple cabbage contains 50.7mg of vitamin C, accounting for 84% of the daily requirement. Try this dish now, friends, just “catch the culinary trend” with Poké, while fighting viruses and preventing colds. Nutritional drinks Course 15: Pineapple, Avocado and Spinach Smoothie Pineapple, avocado, spinach smoothie (can add banana) not only supports weight loss but is also very useful for you during the flu season. If by chance you are also in need of a weight loss smoothie, here is a suggestion. Pineapple is not only rich in vitamin C but also provides the body with a very important ingredient called bromelain. This enzyme actually helps reduce inflammation in the body caused by infection and/or injury. It also helps relieve the pain of acid reflux. On the other hand, avocado not only makes smoothies thick and rich in zinc, but also aids in getting rid of lower belly fat. This smoothie can be called a “elixir” for the body, not only preventing colds in the rainy season but also increasing energy. Meal 16: Raspberry + kiwi + chia seed smoothie Fruit smoothies with chia seeds are a delicious dessert Smoothies are more of a drink, but this one is a little different: between the raspberries and finely ground kiwi is a thick layer of chia seeds, which you can eat with a spoon like a chia pudding with added sauce. fruit. Raspberries provide zinc, while one kiwi provides 85% of the daily requirement for vitamin C. This dessert will be a “shield” to protect you from the rainy season cold. Dish 17: Date + orange smoothie Dates added to smoothies will bring a sweet, strange taste, and provide a lot of zinc for the body Dates are used in many vegan desserts for their richness, making up for the lack of eggs and butter in dishes that require these two ingredients. Dried dates provide zinc, and oranges contain vitamin C. Sip on this immunity-boosting smoothie!

Rice flour has the effect of expanding pores and removing dead cells on the skin. Turmeric has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. These two types work together to help brighten skin, remove excess oil. Illustration. Mix 1 tablespoon of rice flour, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon of honey, you can add a little water to create a thick, not too thick mixture. Apply this mixture on face, neck and relax. After 20 minutes of washing your face, your neck is clean with cool water. Chicken egg and honey mask Honey and egg whites are ingredients that help improve women’s beauty. Using these two ingredients regularly will help slow down the skin aging process to the maximum, giving your skin a radiant pinkish white complexion. Illustration. Mix the egg whites and honey together until a homogeneous mixture is formed. Wash your face and then apply this mixture to your skin, gently massage, relax for about 20 minutes, then rinse with cool water. Egg white and chickpea powder mask Egg whites contain vitamin A to help fade dark spots and brown spots on the skin, making the skin firmer. Chickpea meal helps to exfoliate dead cells, removing dead cells from the skin. Illustration. Mix 1 tablespoon of chickpea flour, 1 tablespoon of egg whites, 1 tablespoon of multani mitti clay, and 1 tablespoon of honey. Apply this mixture on face, neck and relax for 30 minutes. Then, wash your face and neck with cool water. Lemon juice and oatmeal masks Both oatmeal and lemon juice are used to help absorb excess oil on the skin. In addition, lemons help to remove dead cells and brighten the skin. Illustration. Mix together 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and a little lemon juice, you can add more water to make the mixture not too thick. Apply this mixture to your face, massage gently for 5 minutes and relax for about 15 minutes. Then rinse with clean water. Honey and lemon juice mask Both lemon and honey contain antioxidants that help remove tanned skin and brighten skin, while also helping to remove excess oil from the skin. Mix together 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of honey. Apply this mixture to your skin and massage gently for a few minutes. Then, rinse your face with warm water. Yogurt and orange peel powder mask Yogurt contains lactic acid, which helps to remove dead cells and brighten the skin. Combining yogurt with orange peel powder also works to reduce the excess oil on the skin. Illustration. Mix 3 tablespoons of orange peel powder and 2 tablespoons of yogurt. Apply this mixture on face, neck and relax for 30 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. Tomato and honey mask Tomatoes help remove excess oil on the skin, while helping to exfoliate skin and prevent sunburn. Honey is also very beneficial for the skin. Illustration. Mix ¼ cup of pureed tomato and 1 teaspoon of honey. Apply the mixture to your face and relax for 20 minutes. Then, wash your face with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel. Cucumber mask Simple, economical, cucumber mask is very beneficial in treating dry skin, moisturizing and brightening skin even more. Illustration. You can cut thin slices or use a scraping knife to thin each layer of cucumber and apply it on the face. Apply cucumbers for 30 minutes and then rinse with warm water.