A dimension within Forest Food Nutrition
This theme highlights the importance of nutrition derived from forest products and the revival of traditional seeds for food security.
148 voices speak to this
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Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.
A resilient village woman nurtures her family and community through traditional farming, future planning, and the strength of women's voices in Sundargarh.
A Balangir resident cultivates their land with ancient wisdom, dreams of opening a fancy store with a loan, reflects on their unique tribal identity and ancestral jungle, and envisions their village t
By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.
By preserving our traditional, rain-fed seeds and planting them with care, we ensure food for our families and fodder for our animals.
Name - Madhab Majhi. In our region, a large amount of ragi, arhar, moong, and kodo millet are cultivated from the forest. It can be used as nutritious food or in the form of PDS (Public Distribution System).
— Prabhasini Batkar
Brundabati Saraf Most nutritious food - Millet, Maize, Gurji rice
— JAMUNA PRADHANI JAMUNA · Balangir, Odisha
We save for nutritious food. Name: Parbati Madkami, Ranginiguda, Pedawada, Malkangiri.
— Trinath badanayak · Kamarpalli, Malkangiri, Odisha
My name is Ramesh Majhi. We cultivate millet, kodo, and arhar. These can be used as nutrition or for the PDS (Public Distribution System).
— Prabhasini Batkar · Tumudibandh, Kandhamal, Odisha
The most nutritious forest food is Kailari sago. Name: Gita Muduli, Village name: Dekra, Pedawada, Malkangiri.
— Trinath badanayak · Kamarpalli, Malkangiri, Odisha
The valuable grains of the family are: beans, finger millet, paddy, maize, horse gram, black gram. Name: Kamala Madkami Village: Ranginiguda Pedawada Malkangiri
— Trinath badanayak · Kamarpalli, Malkangiri, Odisha
My name is Lidja Majhi. Village Mandipanka, Panchayat Bamunia, Block Daribadi, District Kandhamal. Today, I feel that forest products contain more nutritious food, which is currently a forest...
— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha
Name - Mangala Guruteli Village - Pujariguda Dist Malkangiri 1. Finger millet is highly nutritious for physical and mental development.
— S Guruteli · Gandiaguda, Malkangiri, Odisha
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
My name is Sunita Dalemajhi, from Batamaha, Kotagarh, Kandhamal. The nutritious food found in the forest, Mahua Bhaji, tastes great when eaten with Tila (sesame). It would be good if it is added to children's PDS.
— Manu Majhi · Tumudibandh, Kandhamal, Odisha
My name is Khabari Digala. My village is Lambakupa. GP is Pikarodi. The block is Tikabali. The district is Kandhamal. In our rural area, the main food items were Gangu, Kuheri, Mandia, Jona, Makka, Biri, Muga. Earlier, no fertilizer was used in this cultivation. And because of that, our ancestors lived for many days. We... we...
— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha
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 Hemant Sa, from village Nilaji. Nutritious local forest foods should be included in PDS and also in mid-day meals. Those are Manjia, Guruji, Pasun.
— RUDRA PRASAD BAG · Jagānpadar, Nuapada, Odisha
Name Biru Mallick, Village Salaguda. We prefer ragi, barnyard millet, foxtail millet, and perahi.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
My name is Muktilata Bastarai. Village Budapenu, GP Jhunjhuriguda, Block Taringibadi. I am a farmer woman. I am a farmer woman. If I am given seeds on time, I would cultivate and benefit along with my children.
— Tanita · 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
Paddy, finger millet, little millet, pigeon pea, jute seeds. Village - Te Muru Pali, Malkangiri.
— Ramadas Badanayak · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha
I am Mrs. Aparna Pradhan from Lamungia village, Gram Panchayat Manikeshwar, Kandhamal district. I want to bring back the ancient crops/millets Kujuri, Mandia, and Kangu.
— Sudhakar Pradhan · Kandhamal, Odisha
Daimati Pradhani Millet and Kodo rice
— JAMUNA PRADHANI JAMUNA · Titlagarh, Balangir, Odisha
Daimati Pradhani Millet and Kodo rice
— JAMUNA PRADHANI JAMUNA · Titlagarh, Balangir, Odisha
My name is Ashalata Pradhan. My village is Pikorodi, and the panchayat is Pikorodi, the block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to cultivate everything like corn, paddy, and all with only natural methods (without chemical fertilizers) and would eat it, and we didn't get any diseases. Now we are not getting these seeds, that's why we are not cultivating. Our people are suffering from many diseases. And if the government gives us seeds, we will be happy and able to cultivate.
— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha
Which part of your food, forest, or farming life do you miss the most? My name is Baijayanti Dehuri, village Nedrikhol, and Post Khajuripada, and Block Khajuripada, and Panchayat Khajuripada. Earlier, we used to eat good food, but now we eat food grown with fertilizer, so we want to cultivate millet.
— harischandra Dalabehera · Khajuripada, Kandhamal, Odisha
My name is Kanchana Pradhan, my village is Renguda, block is Tikabali. The Panchayat is Kuikorodi. In the olden days, we used to eat maize, millet, jona (a type of grain), and chickpeas. But nowadays, that seed is not available, nor do we get it. That's why our son gave us the seeds, and we cultivated them.
— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha
My name is Tulasi Majhi, from Kathibadi village, Chinapali block. If millets are made nutritious and given to children to eat in school as part of the midday meal, it would be very good.
— Jadumani Nial · Muktāpur, Nuapada, Odisha
My name is Rama Majhi. I am from Kukurbhursi. I cultivate green gram and black gram. I save seeds for the next year. I have quality seeds.
— Anil Kumar Das · Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi, Odisha
Name: Purnachandra Pradhan. Village: Gatamaha, G.P. Bondaguda, block Nuagaon, District Kandhamal. We are cultivating green gram, mustard, and black gram as a second crop without irrigation, and we are also saving seeds.
— Sidheswar Nayak · 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
We cultivate some nutritious food from the village itself.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
My name is Rajani Baliarsingh, my village is Taringa, Panchayat Katingia, Block Daringbadi, District Kandhamal. I am a farmer. If the government provides me with 60,000 rupees in assistance, I will buy more seeds, which would help in supporting my family.
— Susila Behera · Gajapati, Odisha
My name is Sunita Dalemajhi, Batamaha, Kotgarh, Kandhamal. Yes, this year I have cultivated black gram and pigeon pea in the second crop with zero irrigation. We are following traditional farming methods and seed preservation.
— Manu Majhi
My name is Majhi, village Badigudi, Gram Panchayat Jhinjhiriguda, Block Daringbadi. I am a farmer. The government had given 50,000 rupees. I buy farming equipment, buy seeds, and nurture my children. My children, my family.
— Tanita · Gajapati, Odisha
My name is Gayatri Pradhan. My village is Dibaguda. The panchayat is Pipakaradi, and the block is Tikabali. If our SHG (Self-Help Group) was given 1000 rupees, we could do small farming and support our family.
— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha
Nutritious food found in the forest: Mudhi saga, Chhati saga, Bhadbhadia saga, Koila saga, Munga saga, Ghumi saga, Tartha saga.
— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, Odisha
They save seeds: millet, beans, paddy, horse gram, and black gram, from Damuni Nayak village, Dama Pata, Malkangiri.
— Ramadas Badanayak · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha
Locally, forest-derived foods such as bamboo shoots and mushrooms are rich in protein. Name: Bhagat Dalapati, Village: Kudumulugumma.
— jitendra khila · kudumulugumma, Malkangiri, Odisha
My name is Akasinana Rauti Lilo Tiariga. My name is Pabitrap Patra. My village is Tiariga. I am from Gram Panchayat Katingia. Block Daringbadi. District Kandhamal. I am a farmer. If the government gives me ₹50,000 in assistance, it would help in the upbringing of my family.
— Susila Behera · Gajapati, Odisha
My name is Sabjan Mitra Pradhan. My village is Dibaoala. My Panchayat is Godimunda, and my Block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to cultivate and live off queer, died, and mandia (millet). In today's time, we don't get those seeds. That's why we can't even cultivate. If we get seeds from the old times, we can cultivate and live.
— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha
My name is Malisa Pradhan from Rayakia, Kandhamal. Our ancestors used to cultivate vegetables without fertilizer, and they would eat forest roots to gain good health. Currently, we also wish to live like this.
— RITARANI PRADHAN · Kandhamal, Odisha
My name is Jayanti Pradhan. My village is Brenguda. The Panchayat is Badamunda. The block is Tikabali. In the old days, we used to cultivate millet, sorghum, and maize without fertilizer, and our health was not particularly bad. Now, we don't even get those seeds. And what is being cultivated, that requires fertilizer. That's why we are living with poor health.
— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha
My name is Mamata Digal. My village is Raka Teju, the Panchayat is Siangbali, and the block is Daringbadi. If I receive 20,000 rupees, we will cultivate mushrooms and support our family.
— Mamata Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.
