A dimension within Traditional Food Systems
This theme focuses on the cultivation, revival, and preservation of traditional crops and millets to enhance food security through sustainable farming practices.
147 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
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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.
Here, our ancestors used to cultivate sava, medon, mijhari, and kodo, whose rice and bread were eaten. Today, they are slowly disappearing. Therefore, we should preserve them so that they remain a part of our lives forever. These are very nutritious and powerful food items.
— Ram Kumari
In ancient times, in previous eras, people collected nutritious foods like ragi, millet, etc., from the forest, ate them to stay healthy and strong, and lived for a long time. If farmers or tribal community people cultivate those essential crops of those ancient times again, it will guide them towards the development of their life's values in the future.
— Dillip pujari · Phiringia, Kandhamal, Odisha
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
Pradeep Malik is speaking. And my Salaguda Panchayat. And the programs we had in the past, meaning, in the past people used to eat ragi, ragi kudi and this wild yam, they used to eat all these. We are trying to bring this cultivation back again. It would be good if this came back.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
Our ancestors have been cultivating Kodo, Barnyard, Foxtail, Finger millet, Horse gram, and Barley since ancient times, which are very nutritious. We always preserve their seeds and cultivate them every year.
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We want to bring back past millets, cuckoo, mahua, etc.
— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, 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
We should still cultivate Saav Medon Mijhari, which has been passed down since ancient times. Our ancestors used to farm without fertilizer, and by eating it, they remained strong, healthy, and powerful. Therefore, these seeds should be preserved even today.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We will cultivate pulses using very old traditional methods, so that we can use them in our diet.
— Pushpalata Surtange · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
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
We save stable seeds and kuluth seeds are valuable for our family. We have old seeds like millet, kuluth, moong. We sell them and use them as food.
— Basanti · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
Previously, we used to cultivate all crops like moong, urad, and kulthi, and we want to continue doing so in the future.
— Jyoti Senapati
We believe that the traditional crops like ragi, kodo, and urad dal, which were produced by our farmers in the past, should be produced again. For that, we are requesting the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
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
Ratnagiri Pradhan village and Rajgora Panchayat, Konda Kanjamedi block, Konagazi Konabala. The traditional dance and music from our past are currently disappearing. Therefore, we want to revive and preserve those dances, songs, and traditional songs. We also want to revive traditional foods like Kandula, Biri, Kuiri, Kangu by cultivating them. If we preserve this tradition, the quality of our traditional food will be beneficial for us. Therefore, we will continue our efforts to preserve them.
— Sidheswar Nayak · Nuagaon, Kandhamal, Odisha
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
We save and sow our traditional seeds. Such as chickpea, sorghum, Bhadi, pearl millet, etc.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
My name is Nabeshwar Mallick, from Salaguda block village. It would be good if traditional millets like Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jona, which were grown before, are brought back now.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
The things we used to cultivate before were black gram, green gram, cowpea, horse gram, etc.
— Batakrushna Sahoo
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
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
I want to bring back our old food, which is Mahula and Kakua. That will benefit us greatly.
— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha
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 methods that our ancestors taught, which is farming, and now if we implement that, considering the market's demand, if we adopt our old methods, then we...
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
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
Our traditional crops like Kodo, Kutki, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Kangni, Rahar, and Kurthi should be included in mid-day meals and the PDS, and if the government also promotes them, it can definitely happen.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
Our ancestors used to cultivate Bhadi kodra, jowar, pulses, and oilseed crops.
— Kachala Choudhary
The traditional seeds have diminished. Therefore, the traditional seeds from earlier times, give them back to us again, as they have been decreasing.
— Suresh Miniaka
The inherited seeds of gram, shiyali jowar, which were sown as a second crop in traditional farming methods and were very good for nutrition, are decreasing today. Efforts should be made to save them. The government should provide encouragement.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
It seems Kuntula Pada village is Kutrabali. In Delhi, there is also Titrabali. In the past, we used to plant seeds like paddy, millet, maize, etc., in the hills. And no fertilizer was used in this cycle. That's why our health was good. And now we are unable to get these seeds. Therefore, we request the government. If you provide us with seeds, we will be able to cultivate. Thank you.
— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha
Name: Malaya Mallick, Village: Salaguda. It would be good if traditional grains like Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, Jona are brought back now.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
My name is Dineshwar Mallick, from Salaguda Block. It would be good if the Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (traditional crops) from earlier times are brought back now.
— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha
In ancient times, we used to cultivate with ploughs. We used to cultivate black gram, horse gram, green gram, paddy, etc.
— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha
We are a tribal community, we farm using ploughs and bullocks, and we sustain our lives. We clear forests and bushes to make fields, and we cultivate sawa, medo, mijhri, and maize, which were grown by our ancestors, and we also preserve their seeds.
— Ram Kumari · 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 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
Our fathers and grandfathers used to cultivate traditional crops earlier, fertilizing them with cow dung, and grew pulses like moong, urad, kulthi, along with millets such as ragi and bajra.
— Parikshit Majhi
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
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 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
