MINOR MILLETS – A BOON FOR NUTRITIONAL LY INSECURE TRIBAL HOUSEHOLDS OF SOUTHERN ORISSA

ISSUE - Acute food insecurity(WFP food security Atlas, Lowest HDI(HDR,Orissa-2004), Poverty Incidence-81%(NSS,2003) ; Child Mortality 142, Underweight Children – 48.4%, Anemia among children 44.8%, (Census of India 2001)

WHY ONLY MILLETS???

Millet as high value crop Nutritional security of tribal children

•More productive than other crops grown under shifting cultivation(Slash and burn) •climate change resilient(Tolerate abnormal weather , Rangalaxmi etal,2010) •Ecologically sound( restore soil erosion by covering soil and ideal for mixed cropping•promote social capital by celebrating community festival after harvesting of crop , •Sustainable diet - ensure food & nutritional security as rich in protein, calcium , iron & dietary fiber( NIN,Hyderabad,1991 )

Tribal women of Mulliguma village of Gajapati district have developed a nutritional baby food from locally grown millets(72% by wt), Pulses-Red gram(21% wt) and oil seeds-groundnut/Sesame(7% wt) and it is able to improve the nutritional status of nearly 1400 children by replicating in 52 villages through women SHGs

CONCLUSION – Minor millets can be a ideal supplementary nutrition for the poor tribal of southern Orissa