Experiences, challenges and opportunities in promoting minor millets in India Indigenous Partnership Workshop, 2 Nov 2012 Stefano Padulosi Bioversity International

1.Enhance CAPACITIES of stakeholders 2.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

Two phases ( ; ) 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

Genetic diversity Selection cultivation HarvestValue addition Marketing Final use Rescued diver. Maps diversity IK Document. Conservation (ex situ/ in situ) Better varieties Best practices High Quality Seed Improved technology Novel food items Recipes (old/new) Quality standards Eff. value chains Commercialization Branding Platforms of coop. Nutrition awareness Enabling Policies Promotions Education 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

Genetic diversity Selection cultivation HarvestValue addition Marketing Final use Collection / acquisition of germplasm Maps of diversity IK 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

Genetic diversity Selection cultivation HarvestValue addition Marketing Final use Better seed and practices Improved varieties Better cultivation practices High Quality Seed

Participatory variety selection Lesson: some local varieties preferred over improved types. Yield not the only criteria followed by farmers in their 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

CoC 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.

Genetic diversity Selection cultivation HarvestValue addition Marketing Final use Value addition Improved value addition technology

Elimination of drudgery

Unfinished job: poor recovery rate in de-hulling of grains (except for finger millet)

Genetic diversity Selection cultivation HarvestValue addition Marketing Final use Marketing efforts Novel food items Recipes (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 productQuantity Cost of prod. (Rs.) Selling price (Rs.) Total income Rs Profit % Polished foxtail millet1 Kg3440/Kg Polished little millet1 Kg3440/Kg Diabetic mix1 Kg80100/Kg Bisibelebath mix1 Kg90100/Kg Kusubi savi rice mix1 Kg60100/Kg Ragi Malt1 Kg65100/Kg Ragi Malt Drink500 ml1063/100 ml Savi Paddu100 nos705/4 nos Biscuits/Muffins4 Kg20080/Kg Savi Chakkali1.2kg85100/Kg Savi Shevu1.2kg85100/Kg Tengalu1.2kg85100/Kg Little millet papad200 nos % Besan Laddu1.250 Kg %

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 ( )

Genetic diversity Selection cultivation HarvestValue addition Marketing Final use Upscaling and mainstreaming Nutrition awareness Enabling Policies Promotion Education

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, 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

Genetic diversity Selection cultivation HarvestValue addition Marketing Final use 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 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 players 2.Working with limited resources / staff 3.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.