Bhubaneswar, Nov 15: Once known only for mines and minerals, Keonjhar district in Odisha is now writing a new story - a leading millet-producing belt. Thanks to the active involvement of women who are literally driving this movement with active support and cooperation from the district and state administrations.

Inspired by the state government’s incentives and encouragement, women farmers who normally grew usual crops and vegetables for subsistence, have undertaken millet production because of its high market prices and food value. After formally getting grouped under an umbrella organisation called Maidankel Grampanchayat Level Federation (GPLF), the women got tied up with the state government’s Mission Shakti department and Odisha Millet Mission (OMM). The two government agencies extended all required technical and financial support and assistance to this federation for undertaking cultivation of ragi, a major millet crop locally called Mandia.

The GPLF comprises 138 Women's Self-Help Groups (WSHGs). Each WSHG group has around 10 members. Most of the WSHGs are engaged in millet cultivation. Each group was provided an incentive of 24,000 to meet labour wage, seed and bio input costs.

The OMM, which has been helping the farmers in marketing their produce, has opened Millet Mandi this year. A total of 36 quintals of ragi is targeted to be harvested this year at the stipulated minimum support price of Rs 3,846. Though it outwardly appears not-so-huge volume, the initiation of the women farmers to the crop and the financial benefit they are going to derive will expectedly give further impetus to the millet movement.

The GPLF members procured ragi and pearl millet seeds from the Central Millets Seed Center (CMSC). With the necessary inputs and support, they adopted the System of Millets Intensification (SMI) method and successfully completed transplanting on July 29, 2023. The women farmers, most of whom are tribals, expect to earn good returns on their investment and labour.

The involvement of women in OMM initiative has garnered admiration from various sectors, including the district administration.

“Keonjhar district has been in the forefront in terms of successfully spearheading the OMM mission objectives. The farmers have been pioneering the cause of nutrition and climate resilience while leading all the way in reverberating with the theme of the UN International Year of Millets. It’s no more limited to a mission. It’s a movement now,” Ashish Thakare, Collector and District Magistrate of Keonjhar.

The collector adds that the Millet Mission, in collaboration with the Mission Shakti department, has rekindled the love for millets.

In December 2018, the Millet Mission’s activities were launched in Keonjhar with the support of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) as an extension of the Odisha Millets Mission. The first phase of work began in four blocks such as Banspal, Jhumpura, Keonjhar Sadar and Harichandanpur.

The second phase of work began in Joda, Champua, and Hatadihi. Similarly, in the third phase, the programme was expanded into four new Keonjhar blocks such as Ghatagaon, Saharpada, Telkoi, and Patna.

To date, an amount of Rs 2.2 crore incentives has been given to the farmers of Keonjhar district.

For the 2023-24 fiscal, the cultivation target has been fixed at 9,500 hectares.

In 2022-23, 4,963 quintals of ragi were procured from the farmers at a minimum support price of Rs 3,578 per quintal. A total amount of Rs 1,77,57,614 was paid to the farmers.

Smt. Nandini Mohanta, GPLF president, explained, “We were quite uncertain about the future of millets when we first learned about the millets mission and the collaboration with the Mission Shakti department. However, the Krishna Self Help Group's Millets Shakti Café's success story boosted our spirits, and we chose to pursue millets cultivation under our GPLF."

Millets are nutritional powerhouse, climate-resilient and indigenous crops. The consumption of millets is on the rise for its exceptional nutritional values.

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“The Odisha Millets Mission aims to revive millet farming, boost household consumption and support millet value-added businesses. Never did I imagine that, as a rural lady, I would work with the Millets Mission to run such a sizable value-adding unit," says Sanjukta Naik, the secretary of the GPLF, added,

According to experts, millets are not just grains; they are a testament to nature's resilience and an embodiment of nutritional excellence. Their increasing consumption as a nutritional product, coupled with their climate-resistant properties and role in preserving cultural heritage in tribal regions, make them a crop of immense importance and potential. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and nutrition, millets stand out as a versatile solution that bridges the gap between sustainable agriculture and dietary health.

This initiative also marks an unprecedented move towards cooperative farming methods. Ranjita Mohanta, a master book keeper (MBK), expressed, "We never considered the possibility of engaging in cooperative farming methods. Unprecedented yet fulfilling, this is what this is. It is extremely impressive to see how the GPLF worked together to sow millets on seven acres of land. Most of the time, the GPLF members work to support their own livelihoods. But this effort has demonstrated our group's strength, commitment, tenacity, and resilience.``

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