Experiences, challenges and opportunities in promoting
minor millets in India
Indigenous Partnership Workshop, 2 Nov 2012
Stefano Padulosi
Bioversity International
1. Enhance CAPACITIES of stakeholders2. Strengthen CONSERVATION of local resources 3. Consolidate EVIDENCE on role of target crops 4. Promoting enabling POLICY environment
OBJECTIVES
IFAD NUS Projects
Contribute to empowering the rural poor, raising incomes and strengthening the identity and food security of small farmers and rural communities worldwide by securing and exploiting the full potential of the genetic and cultural diversity contained in neglected and underutilized species (NUS)
OVERALL GOAL
1
23
45
6
7
Two phases (2001-2005; 2007-2010)Several countries involved India: focus on four States
Direct Participation of:
31 Villages, >2,000 families
enhanced use, better nutrition, incomes
and livelihood
Make minor millets effective instruments
of development
Our ultimate research goal
Geneticdiversity
Selectioncultivation
Harvest Value addition
Marketing Finaluse
Rescued diver.Maps diversityIK Document.
Conservation (ex situ/ in situ)
Better varietiesBest practices
High Quality Seed
Improved technology
Novel food itemsRecipes (old/new)Quality standards
Eff. value chainsCommercialization
Branding Platforms of coop.
Nutrition awareness Enabling Policies
PromotionsEducation
enhanced use, better nutrition, incomes
and livelihood
The framework adopted
HOW TO GET THERE?
Approaches followed
Highly Participatory Community-based Bottom up Special attention to women Holistic- ‘from farm to fork’ Trans-disciplinary Inter-sectorial Multi-stakeholders
Foxtail millet Little millet Barnyard millet
Proso millet Kodo millet Finger millet
Target crops: minor millets
More Advanced
Geneticdiversity
Selectioncultivation
Harvest Value addition
Marketing Finaluse
Collection / acquisition of germplasm Maps of diversityIK Documentation
Conservation (ex situ/ in situ methods)
Genetic diversity and IK
Conservation & seed selection
Mapping out distribution of
target crops) and assessing genetic
erosion threats
Lesson: severe genetic erosion taking place in spite of appreciation by people
of nutritional and cultural values
Geneticdiversity
Selectioncultivation
Harvest Value addition
Marketing Finaluse
Better seed and practices
Improved varietiesBetter cultivation practices
High Quality Seed
Participatory variety selection
India: from 2001 to 2008 more than 6000 acc. evaluated, focusing on peculiar traits (household, market and agronomic) and local conditions (e.g. rainfall patterns). Lesson: some local varieties
preferred over improved types. Yield not the only criteria followed by farmers in their selection.
Participatory variety selection
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12000
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Farmer1
Farmer2
Farmer3
Farmer4
Farmer5
CoC
CoC CoC
CoC
CoC
Net
P
Net
P
Net
P
Net
P
Net
P
NET PROFIT- FARMER METHOD
CoC = Cost of Cultivation
Net P = Net Profit
NET PROFIT- IMPROVED METHOD
Improved cultivation practices
Optimum seed rate, line sowing, thinning, inter-cultivation, fertilization (organic such as vermi-compost), trials to assess impact of farmers choices. Inter-crop offered higher income due to high value of crop component.
Geneticdiversity
Selectioncultivation
Harvest Value addition
Marketing Finaluse
Value addition
Improved value addition
technology
Elimination of drudgery
Unfinished job: poor recovery rate in de-hulling of grains (except for finger millet)
Geneticdiversity
Selectioncultivation
Harvest Value addition
Marketing Finaluse
Marketing efforts
Novel food itemsRecipes (old/new)Quality standards
(Photograph: courtesy of Dr. E. D. Israel Oliver King)
Samai Rice Thinai Rice Samai Uppuma Thinai Uppuma Samai Poorna Kozhukkatai Samai Kara Kozhukkatai Thinai Poorna Kozhukkatai Thinai Kara Kozhukkatai
Samai Sweet Puttu Thinai Sweet Puttu Samai Sweet Pongal Thinai Sweet Pongal Samai Sweet Idiappam Samai Thinai Kara Idiappam Thinai Sweet Idiappam Samai Thinai Sweet Paniyaram
Samai Kara Paniyaram Thinai Kara Paniyaram Samai Payasam Thinai Payasam Samai Idli Thinai Idli Samai Dosai Thinai Dosai
Samai Wheat Flour Dosai Thinai Wheat Flour Dosai Samai Kara Pongal Thinai Kara Pongal Samai Thinai Keera Roti Samai Bonda Samai Pakoda Thinai Bonda
Thinai Pakoda Samai Thinai Ribbon Pakoda Samai Thinai Omapodi Samai Thinai Adai Samai Thinai Vadai Samai Thinai Murukku Thinai Adhirasam Samai Thinai Kachayam
KOLLI HILLS TRADITIONAL RECIPES OF SAMAI (Little Millet) & THINAI (Italian Millet)
Blending tradition with modern food trends..
More profitable food items from NUS! Lesson: ample scope for scaling up successful enterprises
Name of the product QuantityCost of
prod. (Rs.)
Selling price (Rs.)
Total income Rs
Profit %
Polished foxtail millet 1 Kg 34 40/Kg 40 17.64
Polished little millet 1 Kg 34 40/Kg 40 17.64
Diabetic mix 1 Kg 80 100/Kg 100 25.00
Bisibelebath mix 1 Kg 90 100/Kg 100 11.11
Kusubi savi rice mix 1 Kg 60 100/Kg 100 40.00
Ragi Malt 1 Kg 65 100/Kg 100 54.00
Ragi Malt Drink 500 ml 106 3/100 ml 150 68.00
Savi Paddu 100 nos 70 5/4 nos 125 78.00
Biscuits/Muffins 4 Kg 200 80/Kg 320 33.00
Savi Chakkali 1.2kg 85 100/Kg 120 41.17
Savi Shevu 1.2kg 85 100/Kg 120 41.17
Tengalu 1.2kg 85 100/Kg 118 38.82
Little millet papad 200 nos 150 200 200 50%
Besan Laddu 1.250 Kg 80 160 200 150%
Trade marks established
Branding and trade mark established. Lesson: strategic tool for self esteem and empowerment of communities
Kundura porject site: training on product presentation, labeling, branding, marketing and account keeping
Malt production & marketing
Products from nutritious millets being marketed
Capacity building on value addition, product development and commercialization
SHG members trained in Rural Home Science College
New skills fine tuned in the villages
Trained members gave training
to others
SHGs helped to identify value added products with better market potential
They were helped to slowly become entrepreneurs
Capacity Building Training on Value Addition at Home Sciences College, UAS- Banagalore facilitated by
Prof. Vijalakshmi & Dr. Geetha
Lesson: ample scope for contributing towards empowerment of women
SHG and farmers’ clubs (2007-2010)
Geneticdiversity
Selectioncultivation
Harvest Value addition
Marketing Finaluse
Upscaling and mainstreaming
Nutrition awareness Enabling Policies
PromotionEducation
Project with the Univ. Bangalore and the Dept. of Women & Child Welfare, Govt. of India.
Working to introduce millet-based recipes in school meals with better overall nutritional profile and competitive costs.
Also lobbying for introducing nutritious millets into the India’s PDS
The Hindu: May 6, 2009.
Mainstreaming nutritious millets into school meals
Lesson: role of policy makers highly strategic to achieve larger impact.
Many articles in
newspapers in national and local
languages; radio and TV
programs, videos,etc..
BBC Video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7247218.stm
Geneticdiversity
Selectioncultivation
Harvest Value addition
Marketing Finaluse
Impact on livelihood?
enhanced use, better nutrition,
incomes and livelihood
Lesson: acquisition of entrepreneurial skills very powerful for raising women self-esteem, recognition, confidence..
Members of a Self-Help Group in Kolli Hill (Tamil Nadu) proudly presenting their
products sold in local markets
since 2001 56 SHGs established in 27 villages 386 (214 women involved)
Additional income for improved finger millet flour, semolina and malt generated by SHG have been USD 25, 100 and 430 per ton of product respectively.
‘exit strategy’ and sustainability
The many challenges..
1. Bridging agendas of different players2. Working with limited resources / staff3. Working with limited data and capacities 4. Investing on exit strategy- policy issues 5. Realizing both Res. and Dev. objectives
Take home messages
1. Yes! minor millets can be instruments of development and bring about sustainable benefits! But holistic approach is essential! Capacities to tackle such a holistic approach need to be created;
2. Involvement of private sector, establishment of associations (SHG) essential for exit strategy;
3. Sustainable conservation resulting out of effective use enhancement strategies!
4. Ex situ and in situ/on farm to complement each other!5. Essential role of policy makers in mainstreaming.