:: Millet India ::

Initiatives > Food festivals and consumer educations

To the humankind, more than 7000 plant species are known to be edible, but only 150 crops are today commercialized are considered to be significant at the global scale. Astonishingly, its just three crops Maize, Wheat and Rice currently meet up to 50% of the global protein and calorie requirements. On the other hand, food preferences and habits are deeply embedded in our culture as well as agriculture: of late, we have lost this mental connection to agriculture and food, farm diversity and nutritional diversity in our food plates.

The revival of localised food farming system necessitates that the habitat-specific staple crops grown and consumed in the dry/rainfed regions are reinstated on farmer’s lands, as these crops not only address the issue of food security but more importantly provide nutritional security.

In this regard, the efforts of several grassroots organisations such as Academy of Development Sciences in Maharashtra, Deccan Development Society in Andhra Pradesh, Organic Farmers Association in Tamil Nadu, Green Foundation in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are especially commendable, which are innovative initiatives and provide an valuable insights into the process of reviving the local food habits in the dry/ rainfed regions. Reintroducing the nutrient rich and culturally owned food systems involves reeducating the consumers and tracing back the history of our food culture. Agro-biodiversity conservation can only be achieved when the farmers in the fields and the consumer’s kitchen are connected: in doing so the food festivals and food melas reestablish the local food culture.

Download EatSmart! EatMillets!!

<< Back