It’s millets all the way for these women in Odisha
Passionate about farming, a woman revives millet cultivation, prompting other women to follow suit, and together they now run a successful millet-based food business.
The serene village of Tainsi, nestled in the heart of Angul district in Odisha, is what Kamalini Sahoo calls home. The 36-year-old smallholder farmer has always been passionate about the land and its bountiful offerings.
She possessed an unwavering belief that sustainable agriculture could transform not only her own life but also the lives of her fellow villagers. Then she discovered the cultivation of long-forgotten millets. Her belief and dedication in reviving millets are bearing fruit, leading her community towards sustainability.
Foray into millet cultivation
In the monsoon of 2021, Sahoo learnt about the Odisha Millet Mission programme. It was a serendipitous encounter that would alter the course of her life. Intrigued by the programme’s focus on reviving millet cultivation, Sahoo decided to take a leap of faith and embrace this new opportunity.
With a determined spirit and a mere 1.2 acres of land, Sahoo delved into the world of millet farming. She meticulously nurtured the crop, applying her knowledge and the techniques she learned from the programme.
As the harvesting season arrived, Sahoo was filled with anticipation and nervousness. But it was a delight when she reaped the fruits of her labour, harvesting a yield of 4 quintals. With her harvest in hand, she approached the cooperative society where she could sell her millets at a fair minimum support price.
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Word of Sahoo’s determination and success spread through her village. Inspired by her journey, a group of women came together to form the Maa Adi Shakti self-help group. Pratima, Sarajini, Surekha, Sumati and six others joined forces with Sahoo to collectively grow millets on 2 hectares of land.
Making value-added millet products
The success of her first harvest motivated Sahoo to explore further avenues in the millet value chain. She recognised the potential for value-added millet products and embarked on a new venture. Slowly but steadily, she set up a pulverising unit and started making millet-based products for local consumption.
Sahoo wanted to bring the goodness of millets to every household in her community. She emerged as a beacon of hope and a mentor for her fellow women farmers. She took them under her wing, guiding them in every step of their millet journey.
The women of Maa Adi Shakti SHG also established their own processing unit, where they transform the harvested grains into a variety of delicious products, including cooked dishes served hot. The villagers embraced the nutritious millet foods and the demand for these locally produced delights rose.
Now the revival of millets not only provides a sustainable livelihood for the community but also enriches the health of its people.
Responsible farming
But Sahoo’s vision extended beyond entrepreneurship. She was determined to adopt sustainable practices that would benefit both the environment and the health of her community.
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“We grow millets, harvest them, give the residue to our cattle, process the grains, and cook food for ourselves and for sale. We use everything, and our waste is zero,” she said.
Empowered women empower others
The success of Sahoo and her fellow women farmers showcase the power of women-led economies and the importance of local livelihoods. They proved that sustainable agriculture, driven by strong, resilient women, could create a thriving millet value chain that contributed to both economic growth and environmental well-being.
Kamalini Sahoo is now known as the woman who revived millets, empowered women, and ushered in a new era of local livelihoods and sustainable agriculture in the district.
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The lead photo at the top shows (from left) Pratima, Sarajini, Surekha and Kamilini Sahoo in their millet field. (Photo by Suraj Mondal)
Suraj Mondal is a consultant on programme planning and management for non-profit organisations, CSR arms of corporate companies and government departments. Currently he is working as the programme officer for Odisha Millets Mission with WASSAN, the programme secretariat.
