Reviving Traditional Crops

My name is Kal Mallick, from Salaguda block village. It would be good if the Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (crops) that were cultivated previously are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

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

— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha

My name is Saraj Mallik, from Keramaha block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, millet, and jowar, which were previously cultivated, are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Manas Mallick, from Salaguda block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia (millet), and Jana, which were cultivated previously, are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Gangadhar Mallick, from Keramaha block village. It would be good if previously cultivated crops like Kangu, Kuheri, and Mandia are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

Name: Malaya Mallick, Village: Salaguda. It would be good if traditional grains like Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, Jona are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

I, as a farmer, will say that the farming procedures, farming methods, and farming seeds we had previously, it is very important that all of them are preserved.

— Sudarsan Dalei · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

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

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 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

My name is Raind Mallick from Salaguda block village. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana, which were cultivated previously, are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

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

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 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

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

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

My name is Bishi Mallick, from Salaguda village block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (crops that were cultivated previously) are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

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

— Niranjan Bisi · Bissamcuttack, Rayagada, Odisha

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

— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh

Old seeds should be preserved using organic fertilizer, and traditional farming should be practiced following natural methods. This can benefit the agricultural sector.

— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan

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

— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

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

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

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

My name is Ashok Mallick, from Salaguda village block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (crops/varieties) that were previously available are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Ashish Pradhan, village Bamnipanka, Panchayat Bamnia, Block Jharimunda, District Kandhamal. I want to make society aware that by collecting traditional seeds and by doing traditional farming to a greater extent, so that the fertility of the soil can always be maintained. I will make society or the people aware.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, 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

My name is Kaushik Mallick, from Keramaha village block. It would be good if the previously available Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana crops are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · 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

I want to preserve traditional farming by cultivating pulses and carry this tradition forward.

— Pushpalata Surtange · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

His name is Tahari Mallick, from Salaguda village. It would be good if traditional grains like Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana are brought back now, as they were previously.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Diprasa Kandha. Village Mandipanka. And Panchayat Bamunia, Block Karimundi, District Kandhamal. I have become aware of traditional farming. I want to preserve traditional seeds and do more traditional farming for my family.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

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

My name is Harihar Dalbehera. Village Kinarigaon, Gram Panchayat Bamunigaon, Block Jarimbali, District Kandhamal. I am a farmer. I wish to collect traditional seeds and do more traditional farming. And I will also make the society aware to do more traditional seed farming.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

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