Kollamani - A wild aquatic vegetable cash crop in Manipur

Prof N Irabanta Singh
Introduction
Kollamani (Manipuri), Morning glory/water spinach (English) is a semi-aquatic, tropical plant grown as a vegetable for its tender shoots. The plant has been first demonstrated in South East Asia and widely cultivated in South East Asia, East Asia and South Asia. In the North Eastern region of India particularly Manipur, it grows wildly near waterways and requires little to no care.
Origin
Ipomoca aquatica is generally believed to be native of South East Asia and was first cultivated there. Several sources have also cited China or India as the location of the plants domestication.
Description and Taxonomy
Ipomoea  aquatica grows in water or on moist soil. Its stems are 2-3 meters (7-10 feet) or longer, rooting at the nodes, and they are hollow and can float. The leaves vary from typically sigillate (arrow head shaped) to lanceolate 5-15 cm (2-6 inch) long and 2-8 cm (0.8-3 inch) broad. The flowers are trumpet shaped 3-5 cm (1-2 inch) in diameter and usually white in colour with mauve center. Propagation is either by planting cuttings of the stem shoots, which will root along nodes or by planting the seed, from the flowers that produce seed pods.
Nutritional value
The nutritional value of water spinach/water morning glory per 100g (3.5 O2) contain Energy – 79 KJ (19K cap.); Carbohydrates – 3.14g; Dietary Fiber - 2.1g; Fat – 0.2g; Protein – 2.6g; Vitamins – Vitamins equivalent to 315 mg (39%); Thiamine (B1) – 0-03mg (3%); Riboflavin (B2) – 0.1mg (8%); Niacin (B3) – 0.9mg (6%); Pantothemic acid (B5) – 0.141mg (3%); Vitamin (B6) – 0.096mg (7%); Folate (B9) – 57mg (14%); Vitamin C – 55mg (66%); Minerals – Calcium – 77mg (8%); Iron – 1.67mg (13%); Magnesium – 71mg (20%); Manganese – 0.10mg (6%); Potassium – 312mg (7%); Sodium -113mg (8%) and Zinc – 0.18 mg (2%) (Source: USDA Food Data Central).
Culinary
Water spinach/water morning/glory/Kollamani is used as a culinary item in many countries. This vegetable is a common ingredient in East, South and South East Asian dishes including Meitei/Meetei dishes from North East India. In Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, the tender shoots along with the leaves are usually stir fried with chili pepper, garlic, ginger, dried shrimp paste (belacan/terasi) and other spices. In Penang and Ipoh, it is cooked with cuttle fish and a sweet and spicy sauce. It can also boiled with preserved cuttle fish, then rinsed and mixed with spicy rojak paste to become Jiu hu eng Chhai. Boiled eng Chhai also can be served with fermented  Krill noodles – belacan bihum and prawn mi.
In Burmese Cuisine, water spinach is the primary ingredient in a Burmese salad called gazun ywet thoke, made with balanced water spinach, lime juice, fried garlic and garlic oil, roasted rice flour and dried shrimp. In Indonesian cuisine it is called Kangkung, boiled or blanched together with other vegetables it forms the ingredient of gado gado or pecel salads in peanut sauce. In Thailand, it is called phak bung, it is eaten raw often along with green papaya salad or nam phrik in stir – fries and in curries such as Kaeng som. In the Philippines, it is called Kang Kong – the tender shoots are cut into segments and cooked, together with the leaves, in fish and meat stews, such as Sinigang. The vegetable is also commonly eaten alone. For the Meitei/Meetei cuisine, tender Kollamani stems are cut into pieces (5-6 cm long) and oil fried along with socked whole pea, onions, garlic, pepper or powdered chilly. The fried Kollamani kanghou is taken with rice and chilly sauce/paste plus and curry which may be Dal, other mixed vegetable curry.
Medicinal use
Ipomoea  aquatica (Kollamani) is used in the tradition medicine of South East Asia and some countries in Africa. It is used against piles and nosebleeds, as an anthelmintic and to treat high blood pressure.
Cultivation
Kollamani (Ipomoea  aquatica) is most commonly grown in East, South and South East Asia. It flourishes naturally in waterways and requires little if any care. It is used extensively in Indonesian, Burmese, Thai, Lao, Combodia, Malay, Vietnamese, Filipino and Chinese Cuisine, especially in rural or Kanpung (village) arcas. In Manipur, the vegetable is grown wild in the water bodies such as Lake, stagnant ponds, etc.
Market value
Its stem bundles are also sold in the market in Malaysia. In Manipur valley markets, road side vendors sell Kollamani stem in the form of 5-6 pieces bundles costing Rs 20/- for 2 (two) bundles. Firstly cut bundles are sold by these road vendors as hot cake sale. It is found in these markets during June to September.
Discussion
Earlier, Ekaithabi (Neptunia prostrata syn. N. oleracea) was reported as an aquatic vegetables cash crop in Manipur (Singh, NI The Sangai Express, Sept. 20, 2017). Hei-Kak (Trapa bisponasa Roxb.) – An aquatic cash crop in Manipur (Singh, NI, The Sangai Express, October 2, 2017) and Kou-Kha (Sagittaria sagittifolie) was also reported as wetland tuber cash crop in Manipur (Singh, NI, The Sangai Express, April 3, 2018). In this article, Kollamani (Ipomoea  aquatica) is reported as a wild aquatic vegetables in Manipur.
Recommendation & Conclusion
Kollamamni contains good amount of essential minerals and vitamins. It is highly recommended for maximum consumption of this vegetable. The technology for mass propagation of water spinach is an effective income generation enterprises for the poor and marginal farmers of Manipur in their unused segment water bodies.
The writer is former Professor (Higher Academic Grade)/Life Scien- ces, Manipur University and Presently, Chairman, Nibiaa Group of Companies, 4th Floor, L.I. Sho- pping Complex, Singja-mei Bazar, Imphal – 795008