Millets in spotlight as NCCI hosts fourth agrobiodiversity roundtable

Mumbai: In the Kanha landscape, where drought-resilient small millets like kodo and kutki continue to hold immense social and agricultural significance, the Network for Conserving Central India (NCCI) hosted its fourth agrobiodiversity roundtable. Crucial issues, such as landscape labels, including mapping exercises to understand regional priorities, were discussed.

The deliberations were held at MPT Jungle Resort, Sarhi Gate, Kanha Tiger Reserve, on March 19-20.

The event brought together a range of stakeholders from civil society organizations (CSOs), farmer producer organizations (FPOs), self-help groups (SHGs), research institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss developing a landscape-based millet label, improving food safety measures, and integrating traditional knowledge into millet conservation and food safety science.

The roundtable built on insights and action points from previous sessions held in August 2023, January 2024, and August 2024. Major themes included marketing strategies that elevate the nutritional, ecological, and cultural value of millets and food safety challenges related to fungal contamination in kodo millet.

Representatives from Keystone Foundation, MSSRF, Paigam, PRADAN, KoKo Ryt. Bakery, WWF-India, Samerth Charitable Trust, Earth Focus Foundation, Reliance Foundation, Narmada Self-Reliant Farmers Producer Company, Parsatola Self-Help Group, Gramodaya Chhattisgarh, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Balaghat Community Development Center, and National Institute of Women, Child, and Youth Development contributed to the discussions.

A highlight from the roundtable was a field visit to the KoKo Ryt bakery and processing unit in Koko village, located in Bichhiya tehsil, Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh. The unit produces millet-based value-added products like cookies. A baithak discussion investigated the challenges faced by the largely women-run initiative, helmed by Jameela Begum, in preserving traditional millets while generating sustainable livelihoods.

This was followed by a visit to the Dhawaipani processing mill and seed bank, facilitated by Chandrakant Yadav, director of Gramodaya Chhattisgarh, located in Bodla tehsil, Kabirdham district, Chhattisgarh, where the group learned about community-driven, largely women-led efforts in seed conservation and millet processing, despite infrastructure challenges.

“We need to center women and their efforts in reviving millets,” said Dr. Manoj Choudhary, a researcher at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Dr. Choudhary, along with Dr. Jegan Sekar from the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, also discussed the challenges posed by fungal contamination in kodo millet, commonly referred to as matona, which can compromise food safety and reduce consumer confidence. Research presentations further highlighted potential biocontrol interventions, such as using a “mitra fungus” (“friendly fungus”) to manage contamination.

Dr. Anita Varghese, director at Keystone Foundation, offered valuable lessons from the experience of establishing Lastforest Enterprises and Aadhimalai brands within the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, sharing the story of building a 30-year-old enterprise that connects approximately 2,000 farmer shareholders to diverse markets while fostering a sense of pride among local communities. Participants explored strategies to enhance marketability through dual branding approaches.

“Branding millets as both health foods and cultural heritage products can appeal to diverse consumer bases, from local communities to urban markets,” said Dr. Varghese.

Dr. Oliver King, a researcher at the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, also led a session on landscape label development strategies, emphasizing the need to understand foundations — whether process-based, landscape-based, or community-based. He emphasized a balanced and sustainable approach to label creation that prioritizes community involvement and equitable income distribution.

One of the most insightful sessions was led by NCCI’s Coordinator, Mansi Monga, and revolved around findings from traditional knowledge focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted by NCCI and PRADAN in villages within Mohgaon block, Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh, where local farmers shared their wisdom on millet cultivation and contamination management techniques. The food safety working group plans to test some of these traditional practices in a lab setting to understand their scientific validity.

Participants also charted the next steps for the landscape label, including mapping exercises to understand regional priorities, exposure visits to established enterprises for learning, and detailed research on marketing models that can be adapted to the Kanha landscape.