Finger Millet for Nutrition, Health and Ecological Security:

Increasing its Productivity through SFMI

A Presentation Cornell Institute for Public Affairs ,

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

June 5, 2015

Dr. K. N. Bhatt

G.B. Pant Social Science Institute University of Allahabad, Jhusi, Allahabad-211 019 (U.P.,

India)Email: knbhatt1@rediffmail.com, Fax: +915322569214,Mobile: +919454951081

Finger Millet for Nutrition, Health and Ecological Security:

Increasing its Productivity through SFMI

K.N. Bhatt*

Presentation Focus

Examine inter-linkages between incoming climate change and Sustainable Agriculture

* G.B. Pant Social Science Institute, University of Allahabad, Jhusi, Allahabad- 211019 (U.P., India).

Analyze Finger Millet (Ragi) as climate change compliant crop (CCCC) with ecological, food, biodiversity, nutrition, health securities

Explore feasibility of Finger Millet production with second SRI (SFMI), product diversification, markets, institutional alliances its impact on aspects of social and distributive justice,

Introduction

Genetic resources key components of sustainability, resilience and adaptability in production systems

CC new challenges for world’s genetic resources for food and agriculture

2050 Additional 3 billion people a 60 percent increase in global food production (FAO, 2015: vi, x)

World’s crops production to be negatively affected by CC.

About 0.7 degree Celsius warming projected to 1.1 to 6.4 Celsius increase by 2100 (WWIR, 2009:15).

Food grain output threatened by CC if av. temp. reach 2.0 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial level.

Land uses and food production systems highest greenhouse gas emitters

Land use change, sustainable agricultural practices, regenerating forests ways to cool planet

India in Context

12% to GDP contributed by Indian agriculture 2012-13

50% population dependent on agriculture.

India’s Gangotri Glacier supplies 70% water to Ganga retreating 35 meters yearly.

40% India’s cropland and 400 million people dependent for water on Ganga

India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, 2008 for mitigation and adaptation focuses on:

Solar Energy Energy Efficiency Sustainable Habitat Water Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem Green India Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Knowledge

Towards Sustainable Agriculture and Climate friendly Food System

3,000 identified edible plant species only 10 annual cereal grains, legumes, oilseeds in 80% world crop land half of it covered by Wheat, Rice and Maize (WWIR, 2009: 37).

World’s 925 m. people suffer chronic hunger; more than this overweight and obese, 1 b. face starvation; one-third global population suffer from micronutrient deficiencies (Frison et al., 2011: 240)

Challenge: improving yields of major nutrients with climate friendly sustainable agriculture

Climate friendly and climate resilient agriculture:

“An agricultural landscape should simultaneously provide food and fiber, meet the needs of nature and biodiversity, and support viable livelihoods for people who live there… should actively absorb and store carbon in vegetation and soils, reduce emissions of methane from rice production, livestock, and burning, and reduce nitrous oxide emissions from inorganic fertilizers.” (WWIR, 2009, p. 33).

Minor Millets: Future of Farming and Food

Minor millets grown for food and fodder

Two types of millets

Major millets (sorghum/Jowar, pearl or Spiked millet/ Bajra)

Minor millets (finger millet, proso millet, little millet, foxtail or Italian millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet

Minor Millets: Different NamesLanguage Finger/

Birdsfood/Coracana/AfricanMillet

German/Italian/ Foxtail Millet

Kodo/Ditch Millet

Barnyard/Japanese Millet

Little Millet

Common/ broomcorn/Hog/Hershey/ Porso millet

Bangali Marwa Kaun Kodo Shama Sama Cheena

Gujrati Nagi/Bavto Kang Kodra - Gajro Cheno

Hindi Ragi/Marwah

Kakun Kodon Sanwa Kutki/Shava

Cheena/Barri

Kannada Ragi Navane Harka Oodalu Sama/Save Baragu

Marathi Nagli/Nachni

Kang/Rala Kodra - Sava/Halvi Vari

Oriya Mandika Kanghu/Kora Kodua Khira Suan China

Punjabi Mandhuka Kangni Kodra Swank Swank CheenaTamil Keppal/

RagiTenai Varadu Kathiraivolly Samai Pani Varagu

Telugu Ragi Chodi Korra Arikelu/Arika

Kodisama Samalu Variga

Source: Millet Network of India (MINI), Deccan Development Society (DDS), Food First Information and Action Network (FIAN): Millets: Future of Foods and Farming, p. 2.

Finger Millet

Sixth most important grain in the world

8% planted area (4 m. ha.) and 11% production (4.5 m. metric t./annum) of all millets globally (Oduori and Kanyenji, 2007:10; Okwadi, 2007: 102)

Finger Millet Climate change compliant crop (CCCC) can withstand 3 challenges

Warming stress Water stress Nutrition stress

Grown from sea level to 8,000 feet above sea level

India’s Commission of Agricultural Cost and Prices, 2010 on Finger Millet (Ragi):

“Ragi is a very hardy crop as well as a grain of great nutritive value. Ragi is grown in most of the states under dry land conditions, mainly by small and marginal farmers. Once harvested, the seeds keep extremely well and are seldom attacked by insects/pests. The long storage capacity makes Ragi an important crop in risk avoidance strategies for poorer farming communities. This crop has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security and foster rural development…The Commission recommends that in order to ensure food security, coarse cereals should be included as a component of ongoing National Food Security Mission.”

pp. 173-74

Finger Millet: a miracle Grain of rain-fed areas

India’s 200 m. htr (62% geographical area) in rain-fed agriculture category in several agro-ecological zones

(12th plan approach paper, 2011, p. 96).

56% cropped area rain-fed agriculture, 45% cereals grown under rainfed conditions

(12th plan approach paper, 2011, p. 96).

50% to 75% of total rural household income contributed by livestock in drylands and mountain ecosystems

(12th plan approach paper, 2011, p. 97).

Holistic Farming System: Several mixed crops with finger millet varieties of both pulses and oilseeds

Very little water required

Sugarcane - 2000-2200 mm rainfall Banana - 2000-2200 mm rainfall Rice - 1200-1300 mm rainfall Ragi - 350- 400 mm rainfall

(MINI, DDS, FIAN: p.4)

No irrigation only 20% rainfall compared to sugarcane and banana

Adaptable to wide range of ecological conditions: grows even in saline soil

Productivity level: 1-2 t./h. 2-3.5 t./h. hybrid varieties 90 – 100 days crop (VPKAS, 2007)

Only farmyard manures & bio-fertilizers required

Pest-free crop

No storage pests as well (23 Years old seeds as Example)

No pesticides required

India’s huge fertilizers and pesticides subsidies benefit only 20% rich farmers will be reduced

Boon to Agricultural Environment

Wheat: thermal sensitive crop may disappear with 2 degrees Celsius temperature rise, provide only food security

Rice: grown with standing water dangerous under climate change: water drenched rice fields emanate Methane – a GHG

Finger Millet multiple securities: food, fodder, health, nutrition, fibre, livelihood and ecological for agricultural security

Finger Millet Nutrition Contents

Finger Millet 3 to 5 times superior to rice and wheat in proteins, minerals and vitamins

17.8 times fibre than rice

34.4 times more calcium than rice

20 times more iron than rice

Beta Carotene abundant rice has zero

Nutrients Composition of Ragi, Rice and Wheat

Contents Ragi Wheat RiceProtein (%) 9.27 11.80 6.80Fat (%) 1.35 1.50 0.50Fibre (%) 3.56 1.20 0.20Mineral Salt (%) 2.11 1.50 0.60Carbohydrate (%) 74.73 71.20 78.20Energy (Kcal/ 100g) 348 346 345Thiamine (Mg. per 100g.) 0.42 0.49 0.06Riboflavin (Mg. per 100g.) 0.19 0.17 0.06Niacin (Mg. per 100g.) 1.1 4.3 1.9Zinc (Mg. per 100g.) 3.3 2.2 1.3Chromium (Mg. per 100g.) 0.028 0.006 0.003Manganese (Mg. per 100g.) 5.49 2.29 0.51Magnesium (Mg. per 100g.) 137 132 64Iron (Mg. per 100g.) 14.03 4.90 0.70Calcium (Mg. per 100g.) 344 48 10Potassium (Mg. per 100g.) 408 315

Source: Goplan, G, B.B. Ramshastri and S.C. Balasubrahmanium (1999): Nutritive Value of Indian Foods, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Cited in Srivastava, Sarita (2008): Mandua Ke Paushtik Byanjan, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, pantnagar, p.44

Finger Millet Health Solutions

High calcium rich for bone formation of children

Slimming Solution: Slow digestion

Diabetic Solution: Thiamine, Riboflavin, Chromium, Potassium,

Zinc, Magnesium, Manganese required in treatment of diabetic patients are relatively high in Finger Millet in natural form.

Ragi Soup Known for its qualities as pain killer

Maintains body temperature in winters

Sudama’s wife says:

“को�दों�, सवाँ�” जु�रि�तो� भरि� पे�ट, तो� चाहतितो ना “दोंधि� दू� धि�ठौ�तो ”।स तो ति"तो तो भयो� सिससिसयोतोहिंह&, ह' हठौतो पे( तो�म्ह* ना हठौ�तो ॥

(Narotam Das, 1605 AD, Sudama Charit)

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and Nutrition,

College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Presentation on Ragi in College of Agri-Business Management, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, 20.10.2010

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

VPKAS, ICAR, Almora, Hawalbagh Campus, Ragi Farm, 21.10.2010

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and

Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi, Displayed at VPKAS, Lab Hawalbagh Campus, Almora

Ragi, from VPKAS, Hawalbagh , Almora, Farm, 21.10.2010

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and Nutrition,

College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Ragi full Plants with Seeds and Stems, from VPKAS, Hawalbagh , Almora, Farm, 21.10.2010

Ragi Foods Variety

Sprouted, Sprouted Salad, roasted seeds, flour, Chapati, baby food, Halua, Barfi, Laddoo, Chikki, Cake, Cake-Rusk, Biscuits, Bread, Kachauri, Cheela, Bhelpuri, Bati, Poha, Namkeens, Sewai, Dosa, Idli.

Visuals follow:(Visuals Source: Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar)

Presentation on Ragi in VPKAS, ICAR Lab, Hawalbagh Campus, Almora, 21.10.2010

Social and Distributive Justice

Finger Millet: Food security of poor

840 m. India’s population sustaining on less than Rs. 20 per capita/day consumption expenditure (National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector 2008)

540 m. rural

Indian Jajmani System of Inam Lands

Inam lands mostly dry and least productive suitable only for millets production

White and bright green revolution crops replaced black

Millets production: direct benefits to poorest with highly positive forward and backward linkages for development of Indian economy

Depleting Finger Millet

Shrinking cultivation areas: declined 2.64% per annum 1986-87 – 2007-08 (CACP, 2010: 173)

Declining state support may disappear in next 50 years

Civilization and ecological disaster

India still largest producer and consumer

Skills for its production available in rural all India

All India Trends in Area, Production and Yield of Ragi and Rice

Particulars 1986-87 2007-08 Compound Growth Rate (1986-87 – 2007-08)

Ragi Rice Ragi Rice Ragi Rice

Area‘000 ha

2397 41154 1366 43796 -2.64 0.30

Production ‘000 tonnes

2586 60906 1983 93947 -1.26 2.09

YieldKg./Ha

1078 1480 1437 2145 1.38 1.78

Source: CACP, 2010: p. 457

Increasing Finger Millet Productivity

SRI Principles applied to increase Finger Millet production: Second SRI

Applied in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh,    Jharkhand, Karnataka, Uttarakhand in India and Tigray, Amhara, Oromia in Ethiopia

(Reported in sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/aboutsri/othercrops/

fingermillet/accessed on 8.4.15)  

3-4 times more production without new varieties with mostly organic inputs (Pradan and SDTT)

Finger Millet Cultivation Cost-benefit/acre (in INR)

Components Traditional methods

SRI methods

Seeds and nursery preparation 150 127.50Field preparation 1262 1460Nutrient inputs 4205 7255Irrigation costs 796 1592Weed control 1980 1056Crop protection costs 432 432Harvesting costs 3564 3432Total operational costs 12389 15355Management costs (10% of total ) 1239 1535Total cost of production 13628 16890Value of production (INR 20/kg.) 8000

(400 kgx20 INR)25000

(1250 kgx20 INR)Net profit -5628 8110Production cost per kg of grain 34.07 13.51

Source: Cultivating Finger Millet with SRI Principles: A Training Manual, PRADAN, SDTT and SRI Consortium Chhattishgarh, India, sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/aboutsri/.../fingermillet/In_SFMI_Pradan.pdf

India’s 2011-12 budget:

“While we ensure food for all, we must also promote balanced nutrition. Bajra, jowar, ragi and other millets are highly nutritious and are known to possess several medicinal properties. The availability and consumption of these Nutri-cereals is, however, low and has been steadily declining over recent years. A provision of Rs 300 crore is being made to promote higher production of these cereals, upgrade their processing technologies and create awareness regarding their health benefits. This initiative would provide market linked production support to ten lakh millet farmers in the arid and semi-arid regions of the country. The programme would be taken up in 1000 compact blocks covering about 25,000 villages. This will help improve nutritional security and increase feed and fodder supply for livestock.”

Source: Cultivating Finger Millet with SRI Principles: A Training Manual, PRADAV, SDTT and SRI Consortium Chhattishgarh, India,

sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/aboutsri/.../fingermillet/In_SFMI_Pradan.pdf

Source: Cultivating Finger Millet with SRI Principles: A Training Manual, PRADAV, SDTT and SRI Consortium Chhattishgarh, India,

sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/aboutsri/.../fingermillet/In_SFMI_Pradan.pdf

Crafting Markets for Ragi

Three Methods

Policy changes at Central and State Governments’

Finger Millet foods mix for Indian Defense Forces, Indian Railways, PSUs, Mid-Day Meal, Academic Institutions Hostels

Multiple sources awareness generation: breaking information asymmetry, example Lauki and Aloe-vera

Conclusion

Finger Millet a CCCC

Socio-ecological returns to farmers: CC, Bio-diversity, water conservation, organic food

High nutritive values with major and micro nutrients

All India crop: existing skills for more production

Equity ensuring crop system

Increased production with Second SRI

Finger Millet foods in Indian defense forces, Railways, ICDS, Schools, Colleges and Hostels, baby foods, PSUs

Livestock feed for enhanced milk production

Intrinsically bio-diverse

People centered and people directed R&D on Ragi.

ReferencesCommission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) (2010): Reports of the CACP

for the Crops Sown During 2009-10 Season, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi.

Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar

FAO (2015): Climate Change Coping with the Roles of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, The United Nations, Rome.

Frison, Emile A., Jeremy Cherfas and Toby Hodgkin (2011), “Agricultural Biodiversity is Essential for a Sustainable Improvement in Food and Nutrition Security”, Sustainability, 3, 238-253.

Flavin, Christopher and Robert Engelman (2009): The Perfect Storm in State of the World 2009: Confronting Climate Change, Worldwatch Institute, Earthscan, London, Pp. 5-12.

Goplan, G, B.B. Ramshastri and S.C. Balasubrahmanium (1999): Nutritive Value of Indian Foods, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Cited in Srivastava, Sarita (2008): Mandua Ke Paushtik Byanjan, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, p.44

Hare, W.L. (2009): A Safe Landing for the Climate in State of the World 2009: Confronting Climate Change, Worldwatch Institute, Earthscan, London,

Pp. 13-29.Millet Network of India (MINI), Deccan Development Society (DDS), Food First

Information and Action Network (FIAN): Millets: Future of Foods and Farming.

Narotam Das (1605 ): Sudama Charit.National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS) (2008),

“A Special Programme for Marginal and Small Farmers”, Report, New Delhi, Government of India, December.

Oduori, Chrispus and B Kanyenji (2007) “Finger Millet in Kenya: Importance, Advances in R&D, Challenges and Opportunities for Improved Production and Profitability” in MA Mgonja, JM Lenné, E Manyasa and S Sreenivasaprasad (Eds), Finger Millet Blast Management in East Africa: Creating Opportunities for Improving Production and Utilization of Finger Millet, ICRISAT, Proceedings of the First International Finger Millet Stakeholder Workshop, Projects R8030 & R8445 UK Department for International Development–Crop Protection Programme, September 13-14, 2005 at Nairobi, ICRISAT, Kenya, SAARI, Uganda and Warwick, HRI, UK, pp. 10-22.

Okwadi, Julius (2007) “Importance and Characteristics of Finger Millet Processing in Uganda” in MA Mgonja, JM Lenné, E Manyasa and S Sreenivasaprasad (Eds), Finger Millet Blast Management in East Africa: Creating Opportunities for Improving Production and Utilization of Finger Millet, ICRISAT, Proceedings of the First International Finger Millet Stakeholder Workshop, Projects R8030 & R8445 UK Department for International Development–Crop Protection Programme, September 13-14, 2005 at Nairobi, ICRISAT, Kenya, SAARI, Uganda and Warwick, HRI, UK, pp. 102-111.

Pachauri, R.K. (2009): Foreword in State of the World: Confronting Climate Change 2009, Worldwatch Institute, Earthscan, London, Pp. xvi-xviii.

Scherr, Sara J. and Sajal Sthapit (2009): Farming and Land Use to Cool the Planet in State of the World 2009: Confronting Climate Change, Worldwatch Institute, Earthscan, London, Pp. 30-49.

Vivekanand Parvateeya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (VPKAS) (2007): Mandua (Ragi) Kee Vaigyanik Kheti, ICAR, Almora,

Worldwatch Institute (2009): State of the World 2009: Confronting Climate Change, London Earthscan

Thank You