Millets will be introduced as part of the meal in the Nature Cure Hospital at Hyderabad where about 100 patients are being treated.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of 20th Biodiversity Festival (or Jatara) organised by the Deccan Development Society (DDS) held at this village on Wednesday, V.S. Alugu Varshini, Director and Commissioner, Ayush, said they would also provide about half acres for an exhibition millets farm. She has promised to invite them for training programme and suggested the women to teach traditional farming techniques to the next generation as well.
Millets profitable
DDS director P.V. Satheesh said the Jatara has completed 20 years. Lauding women of the area for protecting biodiversity for long, he said cotton has been invading food crops thereby harming the ecology. He also informed millets will offer better revenue than commercial crops like cotton. “While a cotton farmer may get a profit of ₹1,930 per acre, it will be ₹10,000 per acre for millet farmers,” he said. Further, millet farmers will have food sovereignty and seed sovereignty and less dependence on others as they cultivate multiple crops, while cotton farmers were dependent on others for everything.
E. Revathi, Dean, Graduate Studies, Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad, said millet farmers are offering better alternative for farm crisis and they are explaining better agro-economics.
Farming is facing crisis globally and the model being adopted by millet farmers will resist climate change, said Michel Pimbert, professor, Coventry University, UK. He warned the planet will become hotter after a decade due to climate change.
“Women farmers of DDS are an example on how a social change can be brought about,” said Srimule, Associate Dean, Community Health Memorial University, Canada, adding that their farming system can save the globe from climate change. Meanwhile, Narasimha Rao, District Agriculture Officer, said the government will extend processing machines in villages and crop colonies will be developed.