White Paper - Millets
Welcome to interactive presentation, created with Publuu. Enjoy the reading!
Executive Summary:
A substantial portion of Jharkhand's population has historically relied on uncultivated foods and edible
weeds as crucial sources of nutrition, particularly for affordable micronutrients. However, the increasing
shift towards commercialized food and crops has led to a decline in the consumption of these nutrient-rich
traditional foods. This is especially concerning in light of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5),
which reports that, between 2019 and 2021, 56.8% of pregnant women and 67.5% of children under five
in Jharkhand were anemic. This intersection of biodiversity loss and nutritional insecurity can be
effectively addressed through the application of traditional ecological knowledge and the revival of
indigenous crop cultivation.
Promoting millets and other landrace varieties within local food systems is critical for fostering a
comprehensive approach to nutrition, particularly in the context of climate change. Jharkhand's
agroecological landscape is well-suited for millet cultivation due to its favorable tropical climate and
monsoonal conditions. Encouraging millet cultivation not only strengthens food security but also
mitigates greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional crops. Furthermore, indigenous crops such
as millets possess superior nutritional profiles compared to processed foods, as outlined in recent
research.
Incorporating these climate-resilient crops into public meal schemes, such as mid-day meals, offers a
sustainable strategy to enhance child nutrition while reducing agricultural carbon emissions and
contributing to India’s net-zero global commitment. Given the year 2023 celebration as the International
Year of Millets, the inclusion of millets in public food systems is both timely and essential.
Introduction:
In the context of Jharkhand, a state with rich natural resources and cultural diversity, the Indian State of
Forest Report (ISFR) 2017 highlights a significant environmental and social backdrop. Jharkhand's
recorded forest area extends over 23,605 square kilometers, accounting for 29.62% of the state's total
geographical area. These vast forests not only play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance but are
also intrinsic to the livelihoods, customs, and identity of the state's Indigenous populations. Jharkhand is
home to 32 Scheduled Tribes, constituting more than one-fourth of the state's population. For centuries,
these tribal communities have maintained a deep and symbiotic relationship with the forests, depending
on them for food, medicine, and shelter. Their traditional practices, including agriculture, culinary habits,
and cultural customs, are inextricably linked to the rich biodiversity of the region.
However, this traditional relationship has been profoundly affected by historical shifts in India’s
agricultural and food systems, especially following the Green Revolution in the 1960s. While the Green
Revolution was pivotal in addressing the country's food security needs, its "one-solution-fits-all" approach
to agricultural modernization proved detrimental to the Indigenous communities of Jharkhand. The focus
was on increasing crop yield, often through the introduction of hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizers, and
large-scale irrigation projects, which sidelined traditional agricultural practices that were more attuned to
local ecologies and community needs.
This changed the relationship between producers and consumers. The stress on agriculture was to produce
more rather than produce safe and healthy food. The process of cooking changed and it changed the
eating patterns. Sophisticated cutleries and quick-fast cooking neoculture invaded our kitchen. Green
revolution coupled with globalization and neoliberalism proved to be a major onslaught on the local and
traditional food systems. While the privileged benefited from neoliberalism, others struggled to cope and
adapt to the changes.
It is high time that policy formulations around nutrition and climate change recognize the traditional
knowledge systems.
The looming challenge of Climate Change in Jharkhand
It is now a well-established fact that climate-induced extreme weather events are adversely impacting
agriculture in India. Be it the extreme heat or prolonged summer spans, unprecedented rainfalls, frequent
cyclones, and locust attacks, and decline in the number of winter days – all of it is having a cascading
effect on the purchasing capacity of farmers, food availability and rising food prices, and ultimately
resulting in a bigger food and nutritional crisis.
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change
and Land1, about 21–37% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributable to the food system –
from agriculture and land use, storage, transport, packaging, processing, retail, and consumption. This
estimate includes emissions of 9–14% from crop and livestock activities within the farm gate and 5–14%
from land use and land-use change including deforestation and peatland degradation (high confidence);
5–10% is from supply chain activities (medium confidence). This estimate includes GHG emissions from
food loss and waste.
Indian government’s own Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), in its first-ever report2 on the state of the
climate crisis, Assessment Of Climate Change Over The Indian Region3, categorically mentioned: India
has witnessed a rise in average temperature, a decrease in monsoon precipitation; a rise in extreme
temperature and rainfall events, droughts, and sea levels; and an increase in the intensity of severe
cyclones, alongside other changes in the monsoon system.
Jharkhand is not averse to these changes. Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in
India Using a Common Framework report4 by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of
India, identified 20 out of 24 districts of Jharkhand as relatively High and Moderate Climate Vulnerable
districts.
4 https://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/Full%20Report%20%281%29.pdf
3 https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-15-4327-2
2 https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1706938
1 https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/chapter-5/
Figure 1: Climate Vulnerability Indices and ranking of districts of Jharkhand, Department of Science and
Technology, Government of India
Since 1961, food supply per capita has increased by more than 30%, accompanied by greater use of
nitrogen fertilizers (an increase of about 800%) and water resources for irrigation (an increase of more
than 100%).
However, India ranked 111 out of 125 in the Global Hunger Index 20235. National Institution for
Transforming India (NITI) Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) report 2020-21, ranked
Jharkhand lowest performing state in the zero hunger goal of SDG6. The number of wasted children
between 0-5 years in 2019-2021 was 8,80,166. Among them, 3,71,508 were the result of severe wasting
due to malnutrition. Under 5-year children, 42.9 percent were underweight and 36.2 percent were stunted.
The nutritional deficiency was pervasive with 62.6 percent of pregnant women and 34 percent of
adolescents in Jharkhand suffering from anaemia.
As per an independent study by Right To Food Campaign, between 2015 and 2020, 99 deaths had
occurred in 9 states on account of starvation; out of which a maximum of 33 deaths took place in
Jharkhand.
Moreover, the food system is under pressure from non-climate stressors, i.e.; growing population, income
inequality, and class and caste biases. These climate and non-climate stresses combined are impacting
food and nutritional security.
6 https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-07/SNP_Jharkhand_Final_compressed.pdf
5 https://www.globalhungerindex.org/ranking.html
Prevalence of Anemia in Jharkhand
According to the latest National Family Health Survey (2019-2021), 67.5% of children from the age of
six months to five years are anemic; 56.8% of pregnant women aged 15 to 49 years are anemic. If we
consider all women of the same age group 15-49 years, the anemia prevalence figures rise from 56.8% to
65.3%.
Table 1: Compendium of Fact Sheets, Key Indicators - India and 14 States/UTs (Phase II), NationalFamily Health
Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, September 2021 (the
Jharkhand survey covered around 22.8 thousand households in the state)
A close literature review of the government interventions indicates that the approach of the Government
of India has not been holistic and comprehensive; rather it has been populist and benefitted the
pharmaceutical industry. On the contrary, a literature review of the recommendations put forth by
community experts and civil society organizations has strongly advocated mixed interventions – to
increase iron intake through food-based approaches, namely dietary diversification, iron supplementation,
and improved health services and sanitation.
Hence, we take this opportunity to inform and recommendation policy recommendations to the concerned
Government of Jharkhand stakeholders:
●
India's vast diversity in food practices, spanning from east to west and north to south, presents a
unique opportunity for promoting long-term nutritional security. Research indicates that India’s
non-homogeneous food culture can catalyze sustainable dietary solutions.
●
In Jharkhand, indigenous crops, primarily local varieties of rice and millet, have been the staple
of the general population in the Chhota Nagpur region. Indigenous communities are also known
to use local wild plants, fruits, and tubers which help them augment their nutrition requirements.
●
Currently, Madua (Ragi or Finger Millet) is grown in Jharkhand in a very scattered manner.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Jharkhand - Anaemic Levels
NFHS-5 (2019-21)
NFHS- 4
(2015-16)
Urban
Rural
Total
Total
Children aged 6-59 months who are anaemic (<11.0g/dl) %
65.5
67.9
67.5
69.9
Non Pregnant women aged 15-49 yrs who are anaemic (<12.0 g/dl)
61.6
67.0
65.7
65.3
Pregnant women aged 15-49 yrs who are anaemic (<11.0 g/dl) %
45.5
59.2
56.8
62.6
All women aged 15-49 yrs who are anaemic %
61.1
66.7
65.3
65.2
All women aged 15-19 yrs who are anaemic %
63.2
66.5
65.8
65.0
Men aged 15-49 yrs who are anaemic (<13.0 g/dl) %
27.1
30.5
29.6
29.8
Men aged 15-19 yrs who are anaemic (<13.0 g/dl) %
39.0
39.9
39.7
35.3
Export Development Authority, Madua production in 2022-23 was 0.13 Lakh tonnes, which
increased to 0.28 Lakh tonnes in 2023-24. While total millet production (including Jawar and
Bajra) was 0.30 Lakh tones in 2023-24.7
●
Interactions with community elders in pockets of Jharkhand revealed that plenty of maize and
millet products were cooked in tribal households such as Makai Gatha, Madua Latha, Madua
Roti, Madua Chhilka, Madua Ladoo etc.
●
But now people bother little to produce millet because of a lack of adequate support.
●
Interactions also revealed that rice has become the primary staple for the community. They eat
rice three times a day, it completes the meal.
●
Earlier, forms of rice such as puffed rice and rice flakes were commonly consumed paired with
green leafy vegetables that were grown locally.
●
Communities consumed uncultivated local greens and cooked them by grinding and mixing them
with starch rice (maad) by adding salt, chilies, and spices.
●
Due to topographic difficulties and less availability of water, farmers in wide parts of Jharkhand
can not produce pulses. Maad Jhor serves as an alternative which is rich in protein and fibers.
●
Both cultivated and wild roots and tubers are reported to be consumed. The consumption of fruits,
especially wild and seasonal fruits, and animal products such as wild meat, birds, ant eggs,
rodents, and mollusks were also part of the indigenous food systems in Jharkhand.
●
Today the commonly consumed grain in Jharkhand has been limited to rice and wheat. The same
is distributed through public distribution schemes and meal schemes in Jharkhand.
●
These are the only cereals that are included in the PDS and eligible for Minimum Support Price
(MSP).
●
Alternatively, millets are grown in pockets of Jharkhand and consumed mostly by community
elders. Youngsters neither have the taste nor do they want to try and adopt it into their cuisine for
the primary reasons also that millets are considered to be “poor man’s food”, “mota anaaj”.
●
Hence, Palakiya Foundation urges the systemic introduction of millets in public distribution
systems and public meal schemes.
●
Palakiya Foundation intends to work towards encouraging both the production and consumption
patterns of millets in the state, particularly building a climate solidarity network between farmers,
consumers, children, lactating mothers, and interrelated institutions.
●
On one hand, awareness about the consumption of millet through experiential learning needs to
be encouraged among youngsters and children.
●
On the other hand, agroecological interventions with farmers need to be encouraged so that the
production of millet can match the cycle of demand and supply.
●
Therefore, the Palakiya Foundation offers its support to the Government of Jharkhand in
developing guidelines to pave the way for the inclusion of millet and local foods in mid-day
meals and provide incentives to encourage their adoption.
●
The possible starts in this direction could be by initiating procurement of indigenous varieties of
millets, unpolished rice and pulses under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) programme. This
will encourage farmers to increase acreage under millet cultivation
●
Facilitate access to credit, technical assistance, and market linkages for farmers to promote
increased production of millet and local foods.
7 https://apeda.gov.in/milletportal/files/Statewise_Millet_Production.pdf
●
Rejuvenation of local knowledge systems for production and post-production handling of millets
is required since, over the last 60 to 70 years of rice and wheat domination, farmers have lost
most of their technical and practical skills related to millet production and processing.
●
Pre- and post-harvest support may be provided to millet growers at the Panchayat level. This
should include the availability of quality seeds of indigenous varieties of millets, pulses, and rice
and millet processing units.
●
Women play a significant role in the production and processing of millets and pulses. Women-led
Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) should be created and supported so that their
contributions to the food and nutritional security of communities and the state are duly
appreciated and remunerated.
●
Strengthening the supply chain and storage facilities for millets and locally grown foods requires
infrastructural investment.
●
Collaborations between government agencies, NGOs, and private sector actors can help improve
logistics and distribution.
●
Introducing millet and local ingredients into mid-day meals requires culinary creativity.
●
Other important intervention needs to be done at the culinary level. Within indigenous cuisine,
millets are consumed in interesting and cost-effective ways. Hence, traditional recipes should be
rejuvenated and, at the same time indigenous food experts, chefs and nutritionists can work
together to develop recipes that are nutritious and appealing to children.
●
The inclusion of millet and locally grown foods in the public schemes in Jharkhand would make a
significant stride towards ensuring nutritious meals for school-going children.
●
By leveraging the nutritional benefits of millets, promoting sustainable farming practices, and
supporting local farmers, Jharkhand is nurturing the health, environment, and cultural heritage of
its communities.
●
This initiative can serve as a beacon of hope for achieving inclusive and sustainable food systems
across the country, creating a brighter, secure, and healthier future for all.
●
However, successful implementation requires the development of appealing menus for children,
ensuring the availability of high-quality millet grains, and establishing reliable procurement and
distribution channels.
●
Overall, incorporating millets into the mid-day meal scheme for Jharkhand’s school children and
lactating mothers can enhance their nutritional status, and overall health, promote sustainable
agriculture, and preserve its cultural heritage.
●
It would be a positive step toward fostering a diverse and healthy diet, essential for children's and
women's growth.
●
Given India's pluralistic culinary traditions, dietary diversification is crucial for ensuring effective
nutrition strategies. Any nutritional security program must account for regional culinary
differences to achieve widespread success.
For more information:
Rohin Kumar
rohinverma2410@gmail.com
+91-9013971997
1 2 3 4 5 6 7