Cultivating Local Crops

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

Our royal forefathers used to cultivate Birahi, Kulut, Mukh, Deshoris, and Badam in their lands. And all these seeds are very important for us.

— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha

Some seeds only grow with rainwater. Just by sowing the seeds, they grow and provide food throughout the year. All these seeds have been preserved by our ancestors.

— Anirudha Marai

Sawa, Medo, Mijhri are our traditional crops, which our ancestors used to cultivate by plowing with bullocks and a plough. They consumed these crops throughout the year and saved seeds in their homes for the next year's sowing. We still practice farming today.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

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

— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

We will cultivate pulses using very old traditional methods, so that we can use them in our diet.

— Pushpalata Surtange · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

We preserve the pulse crops that we have received from our ancestors.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, 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

Here, we cultivate Sawa, Medon, Mujhri, Kodo, and pulses using the 'Batririri' method. We also store the seeds at home for the following year and then re-sow them in the field; this practice is a legacy from our ancestors.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

The rice crop we cultivate, the valuable horse gram of our family; our ancestors have provided us with green gram, black gram, horse gram, and finger millet.

— Basanti · Nayagarh, Odisha

Powerful coarse grains like pearl millet, maize, chickpeas, and flour, consuming which builds strength and preserves our life.

— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Our plows and bullocks till the fields, we sow millet, maize, make furrows, and plant small seeds, and also save seeds for the next year. This is a legacy from our ancestors, which we still have today and which we utilize.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

If everyone at home prepares and eats the millet that people used to prepare and eat in ancient times, then our anemia can be cured.

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

In our region, seasonal produce such as grains, pulses, spinach, and green leafy vegetables have been part of our diet, which promotes nutrition, good digestion, and immunity.

— Jagannath Baraik · Lapung, Ranchi, Jharkhand

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

Our ancestors used to cultivate Bhadi kodra, jowar, pulses, and oilseed crops.

— Kachala Choudhary

I want to bring back our old food, which is Mahula and Kakua. That will benefit us greatly.

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, 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

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

Let's cultivate and eat barnyard millet, little millet, and wheat. They contain vitamins, and the body will remain healthy.

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

We save our traditional seeds that we have inherited.

— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

These seeds have been inherited by us through many generations. We preserve them with the thought that they might not be available to us in the future or could become extinct.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand

We have preserved various items such as moong, beans, and gourds from ancient times.

— S Guruteli · Sindhiguda, Malkangiri, Odisha

Our ancestors used to cultivate millet without mixing any chemical pesticides; they used cow dung as fertilizer. And those foods were very good.

— Sastensh khura

In our area, in very old times, there were Sama, Kodo, Meijri (types of millets) for eating. Diseases were not caused by this. Today, whatever is being eaten as hybrid, all this is on the verge of causing diseases.

— ANIL KUMAR · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

We cultivate paddy, wheat, and pulses in our village and want to preserve this as a heritage.

— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Our ancestors were cultivating. They grew urad and moong. The soil gave them a different kind of produce, and they nurtured the seeds for it.

— Mukunda Majhi · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha

Barley can be cultivated with less water, and 'Batūri' (Bathua) is also cultivated. It is used in lentils, and we store it to eat for a long time. This practice has been passed down from our ancestors. Its seeds are also preserved to be sown next year.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Nature preserves the entire seeds. We also cultivate and sow what our ancestors were sowing, and preserve it as seeds.

— Ram Maravi

We want to preserve rainfed farming, including maize, millet, and barley, for our own generation.

— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

We have received our traditional native seeds from our ancestors, which we conserve and protect for the coming generation.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand

We cultivate a second crop. The valuable seed of our family is Horse gram. Our ancestors have given us Green gram, Black gram, Horse gram, and Finger millet. We follow the farming methods of our ancestors.

— Basanti · Nayagarh, Odisha

Yes, I collect my own seeds. Mung and Black Gram are the most valuable seeds for our family. I have horse gram, black gram, bajra (pearl millet) and Mugeisal rice as old seeds. For us...

— gadadhar dash

We used to eat bread made from hand-ground flour earlier, and it tasted very delicious. We used to grind it with a hand mill (jata) and pound it with a traditional pounder (dheki). The rice from it tasted very good, and the bread from the hand mill also tasted very good. However, today is the age of machines. We should use the hand mill and traditional pounder even today.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

For our family, grains like Mandia, Kangu, Biri, Sua, etc., are valuable. This is my traditional food. We have been consuming these foods for a long time. Thank you.

— gobardhan pangi