KANGKUNG - THE GOOD AND BAD

KANGKONG or KANGKUNG (Impomea aquatica) able to grows in water or on moist soil. Its stems are 2–3 metres (7–10 ft) or more long, rooting at the nodes, and they are hollow and can float. The leaves vary from typically sagittate (arrow head-shaped) to lanceolate, 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long and 2–8 cm (0.8–3 in) broad. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) in diameter, and usually white in colour with a mauve centre. Propagation is either by planting cuttings of the stem shoots that will root along nodes or planting the seeds from flowers that produce seed pods. The plants known as Ipomoea aquatica is a semiaquatic, tropical plant grown as a vegetable for its tender shoots and leaves. It is found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, although it is not known where it originated. This plant is known in English as water spinach, river spinach, water morning glory, water convolvulus. In Malaysia growing kangkong is a good business since more than 2,600 hectar grown in 2016 producing more than 265,000 metric tones valued at RM15.4 million. Kangkong are among the cheapest and nutritious leafy vegetables consumes by local. However kangkong has once less popular due to a report that the hazadous effect to health especially those with high residual level. Those bad kangkong probably collected from the contaminated ponds in the farms. This article I in "Anim Agriculture Technology" I would likr to share about the good and bad about kangkong.

Probably there's nothing like a celebrity endorsement to deliberate or otherwise. Why, even a humble vegetable like the kangkong or water spinach can get its 15 minutes of fame. So we’re here to tell you what you really should know about the kangkung. From rice fields, streams and swamps to the wok and then our tummies, the water spinach has now reached new levels of virality on the Internet, thanks to a stir-frying political and economic endorsement. But here are three things you might not know about Malaysia’s cheapest vegetable. There's nothing like a celebrity endorsement to deliberate or otherwise. Why, even a humble vegetable like the water spinach can get its 15 minutes of fame. So we’re here to tell you what you really should know about the kangkung. From rice fields, streams and swamps to the wok and then our tummies, the water spinach has now reached new levels of virality on the Internet, thanks to a stir-frying political and economic endorsement. But here are three things you might not know about Malaysia’s cheapest vegetable.

Some people says that there ia invasion Of The Water Spinach in specific location. Though kangkung is grown everywhere and grows anywhere in Southeast Asia and they call it phak bung in Thailand, rau mung in Vietnam, trokuon in Cambodia and kalmi shak in Bangladesh and in other parts of the world it’s despised as swamp cabbage. In America, it’s known as the Chinese water spinach and is officially designated by the Department Of Agriculture as a noxious weed. Abhorred as an invasive species, our beloved greenie has thrived in the wetlands of Texas, Florida and even California where its unstoppable, quick-growing hollow stems simply float over the indigenous flora and form ragged mats that choke and stagnate everything in its path. Alas, Americans have yet to acquiesce to this rural cuisine and popular wartime crop. Make it rabbit food or harvest the green plague and stir-fry it.

But recently there is a report about 'Killer Kangkung!. Is it true about the reports?. Kangkung’s indescribable blandness and crispy texture perfectly complement pungent ingredients like garlic, chilli and belacan. But be careful how you cook and eat it, or you could end up with a case of Fasciolopsiasis. It’s a condition caused by the Fasciolopsis buski, a large parasitic intestinal fluke that can be found as larval cysts laid on the water spinach (and several other water vegetables for that matter) in the hope that a reckless human will consume it raw. In humans and pigs, the cysts release the fluke that anchors itself to the wall of the intestine and causes indigestion, allergic reactions and abdominal pain. It’s a total gross-out and untreated cases can be fatal, so please fry or boil that kangkung good and proper before serving it.


In other reports saying that 'Kangkung Cure-All!'. Most of the Southeast Asian aunties have long promoted the Ipomoea aquatica as a universal magic potion for various ailments and everything from diabetes to haemorrhoids to insomnia. That it’s hard to differentiate fact from fiction. Kangkung won’t cure the economy but the water spinach is certainly full of nutritional goodness: A 100g serving contains water (90%), protein (3%), fibre (3%), fat (0.9%), carbohydrate (4.3%), minerals (2%), nicotinamide (0.6mg), riboflavin (120mg), vitamin C (137mg) and vitamin E (11mg). It also contains carotene, amino acids including polyphenol (an antioxidant), and minerals such as potassium, iron and magnesium. All this makes the humble vegetable a veritable superfood. It’s simply a matter of time before health freaks start juicing the freak out of it. On a final note, here’s a progressive remake of a musical tribute to the kangkung. Thanks for the references.

By,
M Anem,
Senior Agronomist,
Kangkong Farms,
Bukit Katil, Melaka,
Malaysia.
(8 April 2017)