Shifting from climate-resilient and micro-nutrient-rich traditional crops to cash crops has resulted in poor health indicators, says expert
Farmers from Kutch displaying millet grain and value-added products at the People's Convention on Millets for Millions held in New Delhi. Photo: Abhijit Mohanty. Farmers from several states gathered in New Delhi to celebrate the International Year of Millets 2023, showcased traditional varieties of millets, reflecting local agrobiodiversity and food culture.
Meena Bisht, a farmer, excitedly displayed a range of traditional crops grown in Uttarakhand’s hilly district of Tehri Garhwal. She was attending the People’s Convention on Millets for Millions held here.
Read more: ‘Labour burden on women millet producers must be reduced’
“Earlier, bajra, kangini, kutki, ragi and barley were the staple crops in our area. But in the last twenty years, these crops were shunned by most of the farmers. Many local varieties of seeds have already been lost,” she said. The event, organised by Revitalising Rainfed Areas Network (RRA) and National Rainfed Area Authority, recommended policy suggestions for reviving millets.
“Climate is changing in Himachal. Farmers are bearing loss due to rising heatwave and dry spells,” said Praveen Kumari from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh.
Horticulture crops like apple and water-intensive vegetable crops such as cauliflower, cabbage and potato fail to sustain too much heat. We are going back to our traditional crops like millet. Because they can withstand such climate exigencies, she added.
The situation of Meena and Praveen mirrors hundreds of thousands of farmers in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh who are on the frontline of climate change. “The average temperature of Himachal has increased by 1.5 degrees Celsius in the last 120 years,” said SK Bhardwaj, head of the environmental sciences department at YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal Pradesh.
Shifting from climate-resilient and micro-nutrient-rich traditional crops to cash crops has resulted in poor health indicators, he underlined.
Over 30 per cent of children under five years in Himachal Pradesh are stunted. More than a fourth are underweight and 17 per cent are wasted, revealed National Family Health Survey, 2019-21.
Read more: Are millets safe from biopiracy?
To tackle the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition, the Himachal Pradesh state agriculture department, in collaboration with local civil societies and farmers, has launched a natural farming programme in June 2022.
“We are facilitating identification, documentation, multiplication and exchange of traditional seed varieties in 10 villages spanning across Bilaspur, Kangra and Mandi districts. Millet is one of the focused crops,” said Anoop Kumar, state coordinator of RRA, Himachal Pradesh.
RRA has been working with local civil societies, farmers and relevant government departments to revive traditional crops in Himachal Pradesh, he added.
The road ahead to natural farming, where farmers are encouraged to shift to organic farming from chemical-intensive farming, entails myriad challenges. “Distribution of subsidised rice and wheat under public distribution system has changed people’s food habits,” said Kumar.
But investing in low-duty and low-input intensive crops like millet could be a game-changer. Awareness campaigns, training programmes, availability of quality seeds and incentive support for farmers are required to translate this into a reality, he pointed out.
Several states have played a promising role in restoring the lost glory of millets, one of the ancient crops grown by humans, pre-dating to the Indian Bronze Age (4,500 BC).
“States with suitable agroclimatic conditions should join hands to promote millets,” said PV Satheesh, director of the Deccan Development Society, who was honoured for his lifetime contribution to millets at the People’s Convention on Millets for Millions.
The production of millets has increased from 14.52 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 17.96 million tonnes in 2020-21, according to a report released by Press Information Bureau.
Read more: How investing in processing machines can help India promote millets
“Millets were orphaned by the centralised agriculture policies of the Green Revolution,” said Arabinda Kumar Padhee, principal secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, Government of Odisha.
Through Odisha Millets Mission (OMM), we have introduced millets in the state’s public distribution system and integrated child development services.
A minimum support price is also provided to farmers. We have promoted a multi-stakeholder approach that is community-driven, gender-responsive and farmer-centric. This has not only empowered small-scale farmers in the rainfed areas but also enabled Odisha to emerge as a powerhouse of millets in the country, he added.
Similarly, in north-eastern Tripura, civil societies such as Seven Sister Development Assistance and Voluntary Health Association (VHA) have been working with farmers to revive foxtail, proso, ragi and little millets.
“The fertile red soil and atmospheric conditions here are suitable for millet cultivation,” said Priya Tosh Pal, livelihood coordinator at VHA. The undulating hilly terrain, heavy rainfall, inadequate irrigation facilities and lack of plain land make millet crops the most suitable for farmers, he suggested.
Abhinash Moirangthen, assistant professor at the University of Imphal, Manipur, advocates for the need to promote millet farming across the Northeast.
Sustainable organic farming and millet cultivation go hand-in-hand, he said, adding that millet cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh is by default organic.
Read more: ‘Millets can solve our food needs as climate changes’
It is important to adopt farming techniques with the least adverse environmental effects while providing promising yields that can support farmers’ food security and livelihood, he added.
In Gujarat’s Bhuj, Geeta Ranchor has been growing bajra, sorghum, moth bean, custard bean, sesame, green gram and black gram under mixed and rotational cropping methods for years.
Around four years back, there was a severe drought, she recalled. “Most of our crop failed. But we sustained with bajra and sorghum. Because they need less water,” she said.
Shekha Banita, a neighbour of Ranchor, said:
We cannot survive without growing these traditional crops as we live in the most water-scarce area. Even our livestock depend on the residues of these crops.
Tejashvi Nari Chetna, representing a women federation with over 5,000 members in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district, has been supplying cookies and namkeens prepared from kodo millet to 600 Anganwadi centres, reaching out to around 12,000 pre-school children.
“We feel proud to provide nutritious kodo millet food to Anganwadi children,” said Rekha Pondram, a member of the women federation. Women self-help groups in our area are getting an opportunity to earn income through these millet value addition programmes, she pointed out.
“In the last few years, there has been a growing policy focus on millets, the miracle crops,” said Naresh Biswas, the founder of NIRMAN, a non-profit working with the Baiga community in the Dindori district.
But adequate attention should be taken by the government and civil societies not to promote monoculture. Traditionally, millets are grown under mixed cropping methods by the Baigas.
Under this method, around 32 varieties, such as millets, pulses, cereals, tuber crops, roots, oilseeds, vegetables, etc., are cultivated. This eco-friendly farming method ensures food and nutrition security among tribal communities that depend on rainfed agriculture.
Biswas believes that providing minimum support price (MSP) and incentive support for a few millet varieties is a piecemeal approach to restoring the value and enhancing the market potential of these crops.
“Why are only major millets included under MSP? Why can’t the government include minor millets under the MSP and provide an incentive support mechanism,” he asked.
There are many challenges in millet farming, said Lahari Bai, a woman from the Baiga tribal community who was lauded by the Prime Minister for setting up a millet bank in her two-room house in Dindori.
Women often spend hours to process minor millets. It is very labour-intensive. Government should provide millet processing machinery in remote tribal areas. Providing training and capacity-building programmes to local youths and women is needed, she said.
“Harmonising traditional agroecological knowledge of tribal farmers with ecofriendly and technically feasible know-how would be critical to ensure successful come back of millets,” said Annandana Seethram, who was honoured during the People’s Convention for his exceptional leadership in furthering scientific engagement in millet promotion.
Besides, decentralised procurement, local processing and consumption should be ensured at each stage of value addition, he added.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.