Bring Back Our Ancestral Grains

As farmers in Kandhamal, we remember a time when our fields nourished us differently. Traditionally, we used organic cow dung manure, and our food was pure. Now, with chemical fertilizers, many of us feel we are eating poison every day and destroying our bodies. We are trying to return to those healthy ways, cultivating with only organic methods. Many of us long for the return of our ancestral grains. We speak of Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana – the millets and crops our fathers and ancestors cultivated. We also remember ragi, barnyard millet, foxtail millet, perahi, kodo, jhana millet, and even wild yam. These were not just food; they were part of our offerings, our heritage, and sustained us. It would be good if these crops were brought back now. By restoring these traditional grains and farming organically, we believe we can regain our health and strengthen our communities, just like our elders did. This is our path to staying healthy and well.