Experiences, challenges and opportunities in promoting

minor millets in India

Indigenous Partnership Workshop, 2 Nov 2012

Stefano PadulosiBioversity 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

2 3

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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ees/

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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 CultivationNet 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 Quantity Cost of prod. (Rs.)

Selling price (Rs.)

Total income Rs Profit %

Polished foxtail millet 1 Kg 34 40/Kg 40 17.64Polished little millet 1 Kg 34 40/Kg 40 17.64Diabetic mix 1 Kg 80 100/Kg 100 25.00Bisibelebath mix 1 Kg 90 100/Kg 100 11.11Kusubi savi rice mix 1 Kg 60 100/Kg 100 40.00Ragi Malt 1 Kg 65 100/Kg 100 54.00Ragi Malt Drink 500 ml 106 3/100 ml 150 68.00Savi Paddu 100 nos 70 5/4 nos 125 78.00Biscuits/Muffins 4 Kg 200 80/Kg 320 33.00Savi Chakkali 1.2kg 85 100/Kg 120 41.17Savi Shevu 1.2kg 85 100/Kg 120 41.17Tengalu 1.2kg 85 100/Kg 118 38.82Little 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 Videohttp://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.