A dimension within Local Food Systems
This theme covers the preservation of traditional grains, their role as ancestral food, and their impact on public health and food policy.
149 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.
By embracing our ancestral foods, language, and traditions, we can nourish our children and strengthen our community's identity and well-being.
Our ancestors lived long and healthy lives by cultivating traditional crops without chemicals and consuming nourishing forest roots, a practice many now wish to revive.
Farmers in Kandhamal advocate for restoring traditional, organic millet cultivation to improve health and revitalize local food systems.
To preserve our health and culture, we advocate for the inclusion of native, nutritious grains in public food programs.
I want to bring back our old food, which is Mahula and Kakua. That will benefit us greatly.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
Our ancestors used to consume grains like Kuri, Kudra, Humli, and other similar produce. Those grains are now gone. If the government conducts a survey/preservation effort for them, it would be very beneficial for our people in the future, meaning there would be no illnesses or similar problems.
— Mohan AHARI · Udaipur, Rajasthan
We should establish a nutritional system to promote the food items that our ancestors collectively prepared.
— James Sabar · Khilamunda1, Rayagada, Odisha
For the future, the old traditions that had ceased need to be restarted, because it benefits food habits and children's health.
— संगीता मीणा · Dachki Jaswantpura, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
In ancient times, in previous eras, people collected nutritious foods like ragi, millet, etc., from the forest, ate them to stay healthy and strong, and lived for a long time. If farmers or tribal community people cultivate those essential crops of those ancient times again, it will guide them towards the development of their life's values in the future.
— Dillip pujari · Phiringia, Kandhamal, Odisha
The traditional nutritious food of our community like Kodo, Kutki, maize, sorghum, wheat, arhar, sesame, masoor, moong, chana, batla etc. should be included in PDS (Public Distribution System) and mid-day meals, and the government should promote them.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
It would be good to give traditional food to our school children.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Mohana, Gajapati, Odisha
Here, our ancestors used to cultivate sava, medon, mijhari, and kodo, whose rice and bread were eaten. Today, they are slowly disappearing. Therefore, we should preserve them so that they remain a part of our lives forever. These are very nutritious and powerful food items.
— Ram Kumari
When we used to prepare and eat food with Mahula, we stayed healthy. We should still eat it now.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
Our traditional nutritious food like kodo, kutki, maize, sorghum, wheat, etc., as khichdi and dalia should be given in mid-day meals, and it would be great if the government also includes such grains in PDS.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Our traditional crops like Kodo, Kutki, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Kangni, Rahar, and Kurthi should be included in mid-day meals and the PDS, and if the government also promotes them, it can definitely happen.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
It would be good to provide traditional food to our school children in school.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Lobersing (Phuntsokling Tibetan settlement), Gajapati, Odisha
We want to bring back past millets, cuckoo, mahua, etc.
— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha
If everyone at home prepares and eats the millet that people used to prepare and eat in ancient times, then our anemia can be cured.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
Our traditional crops like Kodo, Kutki, maize, Rahar, Kurthi, chickpeas, and other pulses should also be given in schools and Anganwadi centers under the Midday Meal Scheme, and they should also be promoted by the government.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
For future generations, traditional food and herbal remedies should be available, and people should remain healthy. They wish for their preservation through this.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
It would be good to provide traditional food to the children of our region in school midday meals.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Mohana, Gajapati, Odisha
It would be good to give traditional food to children in school.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Gajapati, Odisha
We need to promote nutrition.
— Anangaprabha Bhoi · Bangomunda, Balangir, Odisha
If traditional food is provided to children in our school, they will become healthy and strong.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Gajapati, Odisha
It would be better to provide traditional food to children in our school.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Gajapati, Odisha
Pradeep Malik is speaking. And my Salaguda Panchayat. And the programs we had in the past, meaning, in the past people used to eat ragi, ragi kudi and this wild yam, they used to eat all these. We are trying to bring this cultivation back again. It would be good if this came back.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
So that the coming generation can know about our food habits.
— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Ratnagiri Pradhan village and Rajgora Panchayat, Konda Kanjamedi block, Konagazi Konabala. The traditional dance and music from our past are currently disappearing. Therefore, we want to revive and preserve those dances, songs, and traditional songs. We also want to revive traditional foods like Kandula, Biri, Kuiri, Kangu by cultivating them. If we preserve this tradition, the quality of our traditional food will be beneficial for us. Therefore, we will continue our efforts to preserve them.
— Sidheswar Nayak · Nuagaon, Kandhamal, Odisha
Millet is an indigenous food. If we provide millet to children as a midday meal in schools, their physical and mental wellbeing will improve.
— Padmini Bhoi
We should still cultivate Saav Medon Mijhari, which has been passed down since ancient times. Our ancestors used to farm without fertilizer, and by eating it, they remained strong, healthy, and powerful. Therefore, these seeds should be preserved even today.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We will cultivate pulses using very old traditional methods, so that we can use them in our diet.
— Pushpalata Surtange · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
I remember the olden days. Our grandfathers and great-grandfathers used to consume Kangu, Kueri, Kusala (types of millets). Because they consumed these, they lived for a very long time, up to 100 years. Presently, since these are not being consumed, all of us are in a difficult state. If the government would provide us with seeds of Kangu and Kueri, it would be even better. We would thank the government. Namaskar to everyone.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
Mahul, char, and sargi have a lot of vitamins. Our bodies used to stay healthy by eating them. It would be good if the government provides food to students.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
We used to eat Mahua before, all kinds of Mahua, Rama Mahua. Because we ate all that, our body used to stay well. If you eat that, you too will stay well again.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
It would be good to provide a traditional meal to children in school.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Mohana, Gajapati, Odisha
The government should promote the most nutritious foods easily available in our region, such as kodo, kutki, maize, along with tur dal, gram, and horse gram lentils, and include them in PDS and mid-day meals.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
It would be good to serve traditional food to the children of our school during lunchtime.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Lobersing (Phuntsokling Tibetan settlement), Gajapati, Odisha
The food department should inform the public about nutritious grains such as jowar, kodo, kutki, and bajra, which are gradually becoming less common but are highly beneficial for health.
— Jaysingh Barskar · Piparapura, Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh
It would be good to provide traditional food to school children for lunch.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK
It would be good if traditional food is given priority to children in mid-day meals at school.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Gajapati, Odisha
It would be good if traditional food was given to school children.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Mohana, Gajapati, Odisha
While promoting our traditional grains, the government should also include them in PDS and mid-day meals.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
My name is Sukanti Pradhan. My village is Lambakupa. GP is Pikorodi. Block is Tikabali. District is Kandhamal. In our rural areas, the main food items that were cultivated, such as ragi, millet, maize, black gram, and green gram, did not require fertilizer. That's why our ancestors lived for a long time. Currently, because we are not cultivating our traditional food seeds, many kinds of diseases are occurring. So, if we can get traditional food and seeds from the government, then we can return to our previous state.
— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha
It would be good to provide traditional food to school children in their mid-day meal.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.
“What are the most nutritive locally available forest foods which should be included in the PDS and Mid Day Meal and promoted by the Government?” · “If you or your women’s groups are given a seed capital of INR 20,000, what enterprise will you choose?” · +6 more
“What do you like the most about Thiruvanmiyur Mada Veedhi?”
