Traditional Crop Revival

The traditional seeds have diminished. Therefore, the traditional seeds from earlier times, give them back to us again, as they have been decreasing.

— Suresh Miniaka

We want to bring back past millets, cuckoo, mahua, etc.

— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha

We believe that the traditional crops like ragi, kodo, and urad dal, which were produced by our farmers in the past, should be produced again. For that, we are requesting the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

The inherited seeds of gram, shiyali jowar, which were sown as a second crop in traditional farming methods and were very good for nutrition, are decreasing today. Efforts should be made to save them. The government should provide encouragement.

— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

Earlier, we used to store our grains in traditional bins. At that time, the crop used to grow well. But now, if we keep the seeds in steel bins, they are not sprouting. So, we want to return to our old ways.

— Hariparkash kharadi · Katarwas Khurd, Udaipur, Rajasthan

Kodamal district Monakarna Court Dhansingh. In our current area, the Kohiri and Kangu that used to grow are not available now. We are trying to revive them, and we are definitely starting them.

— Sasmita Mallick · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

Now, not much food is available in the forest, but our community's traditional grains like Kodo Kutki khichdi, dalia, and Tur, Chana, and Masoor dals should be included in the PDS, and our children should also receive these in their midday meals.

— 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

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

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

If we are to cultivate a second crop with zero irrigation, we will preserve traditional farming methods. We also request the government to allow us to grow wheat, gram, and mustard.

— Jayanti Bhagora · Malmatha, Dungarpur, Rajasthan

It seems Kuntula Pada village is Kutrabali. In Delhi, there is also Titrabali. In the past, we used to plant seeds like paddy, millet, maize, etc., in the hills. And no fertilizer was used in this cycle. That's why our health was good. And now we are unable to get these seeds. Therefore, we request the government. If you provide us with seeds, we will be able to cultivate. Thank you.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, 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

We save and sow our traditional seeds. Such as chickpea, sorghum, Bhadi, pearl millet, etc.

— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

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

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

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

My name is Sabita Pradhan. My village is Ghosaguda. The block is Tikabali. In earlier times, we used to cultivate in the forests. And we used to cultivate millets, corn, black gram, and horse gram. We used to cultivate all those. Fertilizer was not even needed there. And even if we want to cultivate now, we are not getting seeds. That's why we are requesting the government that if they provide us with seeds, we will be able to cultivate and sustain ourselves.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

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

In traditional farming methods, to preserve seeds, we need to conserve the oldest and indigenous varieties of seeds.

— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh

My name is Jarunal Pradhan, and my village is Piparodi. And the GP (Gram Panchayat) is Piparodi block, Tikabali. In the past, we used to clear the forest there and plant millet, ragi, and corn. But today, we are not able to get those seeds. That's why we are requesting the government for seeds.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Chandrika Pradhan. My village is Panga Bidungia, block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to keep seeds in pots. We kept them because, in the olden days, we didn't use fertilizer. Nowadays, we are using fertilizer. That's why we can't keep our seeds for many days. We want to return to the previous state.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

The local seeds in rural areas, such as Kuri corn, Kang, Bawaata, etc., should be protected by the government, and they are most important for this soil according to our ancient tradition.

— Anil Pargi · Cheekhli, Dungarpur, Rajasthan

We are gradually destroying the traditional seeds of ancient times. We should preserve those seeds. Otherwise, some medicines and plants are leading to their extinction.

— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Gitilāta, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand

We want to preserve rain-fed crops like maize and jute, which are part of our old heritage, for future generations.

— bachcha lal · Shahganj, 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

My name is Sabjan Mitra Pradhan. My village is Dibaoala. My Panchayat is Godimunda, and my Block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to cultivate and live off queer, died, and mandia (millet). In today's time, we don't get those seeds. That's why we can't even cultivate. If we get seeds from the old times, we can cultivate and live.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

In our region, the zero-crop, zero-irrigation crops, Sarguja and Tesi in pulses, are on the verge of extinction. The government should encourage farmers to cultivate them.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand

Previously, we used to cultivate all crops like moong, urad, and kulthi, and we want to continue doing so in the future.

— Jyoti Senapati

But we need to protect the traditional farming that was done before.

— Niranjan Bisi · Bissamcuttack, Rayagada, Odisha

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

My name is Mutiy Pradhan. My Gram Panchayat is Pikorodi. My Block is Tikabali. My District is Kandhamal. Our mothers used to store seeds in the olden days. They would keep seeds in pots near the fire in 'Putra Jakore'. Nothing would happen to them. Today, in today's date, farming is done with fertilizer and pesticides, which is why this year, the seeds cannot last even for a year. That's why we want to live like before.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Sanjukta Digal. My village is Kamba Naju, GP is Pikarudi, Block is Tikabali. Earlier, we used to get all these things like Mandia, Deddy, Arka, Chana, Makka. And nowadays, we don't get seeds. And our body, our body is also getting very bad. Because now we are only eating processed food. That's why, if we get the old traditional seeds, we want to cultivate and keep our body healthy.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

Yes, we save our traditional seeds, but now the seeds have run out.

— Kachala Choudhary

They used to grow a second crop here without irrigation, and now the government should also support this. Seeds should be made available regularly, and everyone should receive them on time.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand

My name is Nabeshwar Mallick, from Salaguda block village. It would be good if traditional millets like Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jona, which were grown before, are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

We still have traditional seeds like Kodo, Kutki, Maize, Sorghum, Kulthi, Arhar, etc., which we sow using old methods even without irrigation facilities. Even then, our crops ripen.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

The methods that our ancestors taught, which is farming, and now if we implement that, considering the market's demand, if we adopt our old methods, then we...

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

If it has started, say yes. We want to grow our old seeds again so that there is no problem for the coming generation, and we are also thinking of keeping them safe.

— Hariparkash kharadi · Deri, Udaipur, Rajasthan