Is The Millet Tradition Losing Its Flavour Amongst Tribals In Madhya Pradesh?

Millets- the powerhouse of energy and regarded as the poor man’s grain is now considered the ‘backbone of Indian agriculture’. The year 2023 marked a growing year for the millet where it was declared as the international year of millet by the United Nations following a request by the government of India. A report was released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare calling millet an adaptable crop that can easily grow in degraded soil in up to 50 degrees Celsius. Despite its adaptability, nutritional benefits and climate resilience, Millet never gained the limelight it deserved initially but it’s now seeing a rise in the urban regions due to its benefits. The urban section is finally including millets in their meal menu which not only deals with weight loss but also makes the dishes prime to fill the lacking needs of the body.Also Read: Five Kochi’s Oldest Outlets You Need To Visit During Your Kerala TripHowever, the tribal communities shifted from their staple diet of millet to grains. As the Green Revolution pushed grains and rice to the forefront in the 1960s to meet food sufficiency, it made rice more accessible to people. But rice never managed to fulfil the lacking needs and provide adequate nutrition to most of the tribal population, especially to the individuals struggling with anaemia. The government has denied supporting the minimum support price for the grain as well and the push for hybrid seeds has discouraged the tribals from continuing their long-standing tradition.

Various Indigenous communities make up to one-fifth of the total population in Madhya Pradesh and interestingly, the state ranks in the fifth position in the production of millets. Farmers usually follow a strict traditional method of growing or cultivating millets which are not really supportive in large-scale production. Also Read: Ellu Thuvaiyal- A South Indian Style Sesame Seed Condiment To Pair With Idli-Dosa, Recipe Inside According to some documents, the farmers are also preserving millet for pregnant or lactating mothers who basically require additional nutrition. Expanding the presence of millets in the diet of tribal natives requires the government to charge a nominal fee for millet processing. Main millet like kodo and little millet also referred to as kutki are grown widely in Madhya Pradesh. Activists and experts are taking various steps to revive the spirit of millet dishes that have not been passed on through generations. Various cookbooks are being prepared to preserve the age-old dishes including kodo halwa, kutki ki kheer and ladoos.