The shift from staple millets to rice rations among Adivasi communities in Madhya Pradesh
Published on: March 19, 2024.
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Reviving the Tradition of Millet Consumption in India
In the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Sundi Bai Uike, a farmer, uses a traditional thresher to separate millet grains from their stalks. Millets like kodo and kutki were once staple foods for indigenous communities in India. However, the Green Revolution in the 1960s replaced these traditional grains with rice and wheat, causing millets to be considered as poor man’s grains. In an effort to promote millets again, the United Nations declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Millets are climate resilient and can grow easily in degraded soil and extreme temperatures. They are rich in fiber, minerals, and amino acids, making them nutritionally valuable.
While millet consumption is gradually gaining popularity among urban Indians, tribal communities still prefer rice, which is easily accessible through the public distribution system. However, rice does not provide adequate nutrition to many Adivasi populations struggling with conditions like anemia. The Women and Child Welfare Department is promoting the use of millets to tackle malnutrition. Millets are being included in hot-cooked meals and take-home rations for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under the age of six. These efforts aim to provide essential nutrients like protein, fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
The revival of millets faces several challenges. Many farmers rely on traditional cultivation methods and are hesitant to switch back to millet due to the need for fallow fields after each harvest and the laborious processing involved. Convenience and processed grains provided by the public distribution system have led to the erosion of knowledge about millet processing in families. To address these challenges, local processing units encourage farmers to have their millets processed for a fee. However, the lack of a minimum support price (MSP) and the loss of traditional millet recipes further hinder the revival of millets in Madhya Pradesh. Efforts are being made by NGOs and the Madhya Pradesh government to reintroduce traditional millet recipes and promote millet consumption among children.
Despite the challenges, there is hope for the revival of millets in Madhya Pradesh. Farmers are encouraged to adopt new farming techniques and high-yielding millet varieties. The government’s State Millet Mission Scheme provides a subsidy on improved certified millet seeds to increase yield. With concerted efforts, millets can regain their status as important crops in India, ensuring food security and nutrition for all.
