Millet again finds favour with farmers

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 15

In view of the ecological cost of the wheat-paddy cropping system in Punjab, efforts are being made to revive the cultivation of millet (bajra). A number of farmers across several districts have taken to millet cultivation under the guidance of non-profit organisation Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM).

To popularise the cultivation of millet, the KVM has been organising millet food festivals in the state. EcoSikh, another NGO, is also popularising millet by organising millet langars in gurdwaras.

“Earlier, millet used to be the staple food of the state. For human health as well as ecological health, millet cultivation is the answer. Millet can be cultivated in degraded soil, and the crop does well without fertilisers and pesticides,” said Rupsi Garg, Associate Director, KVM.

Farmers from Ludhiana, Sangrur, Faridkot, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur and Fazilka districts are opting for millet cultivation to break away from the paddy-wheat cycle. “Several farmers are starting with a small area; not more than half an acre at most of the places. But in Fazilka, a farmer has sown millet over 8 acres. In Ludhiana, a farmer is experimenting with the cultivation of different varieties of millet in 1.75 acres of land,” Garg said.

To promote the use of millet as food, the KVM is organising a three-day millet festival in Chandigarh, starting on January 18. The focus will be on rediscovering the food heritage of Punjab.

The ‘Millet Mission’ of EcoSikh is gaining popularity in Ludhiana. “Millet langar with EcoSikh” is an initiative to introduce healthy food options in langar and provide water-saving options for farmers of the state.

Prior to the Green Revolution, millet was an integral part of Punjabi kitchen, said Ravneet Singh, EcoSikh project manager. “Millet requires 70 per cent less water as compared with paddy. Farmers growing millets save on investment on fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides.”