Purulia 28th July 2023: SwitchON Foundation, with the assistance of Department of Agriculture, West Bengal, organised a District Level Workshop on Millet Cultivation at Krishi Bhawan Purulia, West Bengal to raise awareness about the climate and nutritional benefits of millet.
In its commitment to climate action, SwitchON Foundation has been actively promoting millet cultivation in the semi-arid tropics of East India.. The intervention in the agricultural sector covers more than 100 acres, benefiting around 450 farmers in the Purulia district of West Bengal. The district has immense potential for millet production, with over two million metric tons of coarse cereals, including jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), and ragi (finger millet), being produced in the state during the financial year 2020.
Shri.Vinay Jaju, MD of SwitchON Foundation said, “ Our aim is not only to promote millet cultivation but also to create a positive impact on the lives of farmers and consumers by integrating these nutritious grains into our food basket”.
Around 100 farmers attended the event to understand the benefits of growing millets and its relation to climate change.This workshop aimed to create awareness and empower farmers with the necessary information to embrace sustainable agricultural practices for a more climate-resilient future. The worksop witnessed the presence of district government officials and sector experts that included Shri. Aditya Duary, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Purulia, Shri.Sagar Bandyopadhyay, Joint Director of Agriculture, Bankura Range, Shri. Uday Shankar Roy, Assistant Botanist and in charge ZDRPRS, Purulia, Shri. Chaitan Saren, Asst. Prof; Department of agronomy, BCKV, Shri. Uttam Raj Guru, Deputy Project officer and project incharge WBCADC, Saharjore.
A baseline study was conducted by SwitchON Foundation to assess the existing pattern of millet cultivation and consumption among the farmers in West Bengal. The study also focussed on understanding the issues experienced by farmers along the entire value chain of millet. The study was carried out through a survey of 403 farmers in two districts viz. Purulia and Bankura across 7 blocks. In West Bengal, pearl millet takes the lead as the most widely cultivated millet with 295 farmers reporting its cultivation, followed by finger millet with 183 farmers. Sorghum holds its significance with 114 farmers opting for its cultivation, while 27 farmers are engaged in cultivating other types of millets.
82% of the farmers are into subsistence farming only 18% of the farmers are selling it into the market. Moreover, 36% of the farmers consume millets themselves, recognizing its nutritional benefits and potential as a valuable food source. The study also brought attention to a critical aspect: market linkage for millets in West Bengal. Only a mere 6% of farmers reported having access to established markets. An alarming 80% of the farmers expressed unfamiliarity with millet processing techniques that could enhance the crop’s value. Currently, only 20% of farmers engage in processing, and even that is primarily limited to traditional methods, which demand extensive human labour. 268 farmers stated that they require training on millet cultivation, 53 farmers have stated that market linkage is highly important. 280 farmers have stated if the govt can provide seed at subsidised rates that will help them to increase the production.
Shri. Aditya Duary, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Purulia, commented on the initiative, “The District Level Workshop on Millet Cultivation has been a significant step towards promoting climate-resilient agriculture in our region. Through this we aim to generate knowledge on the existing gaps in millet cultivation and empower our farmers to adopt sustainable practices for a better future.”
Shri.Sagar Bandyopadhyay, Joint Director of Agriculture, Bankura Range said, “It’s heartening to see such strong partnerships coming together for a common cause. Millet cultivation has immense potential in East India, and this workshop has brought together stakeholders committed to driving positive change. The efforts are commendable, and I believe we will witness a transformation in our agricultural landscape with increased awareness and knowledge dissemination on millets.”
Media Dossier
Contact: Vinay Jaju | M: +91 9331178105 | Email: VJ@SwitchON.org.in
0 
0 
