Reviving Traditional Crops

My name is Bishi Mallick, from Salaguda village block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (crops that were cultivated previously) are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Saraj Mallik, from Keramaha block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, millet, and jowar, which were previously cultivated, are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Ashok Mallick, from Salaguda village block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (crops/varieties) that were previously available are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Kaushik Mallick, from Keramaha village block. It would be good if the previously available Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana crops are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · 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 Harihar Dalbehera. Village Kinarigaon, Gram Panchayat Bamunigaon, Block Jarimbali, District Kandhamal. I am a farmer. I wish to collect traditional seeds and do more traditional farming. And I will also make the society aware to do more traditional seed farming.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

My name is Ganeswar Mallick, from village Keramaha. Earlier, people used to talk about Lanka Mandia, Kueri, Kangu, Jhana. If cultivated now, it would be beneficial.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Ashish Pradhan, village Bamnipanka, Panchayat Bamnia, Block Jharimunda, District Kandhamal. I want to make society aware that by collecting traditional seeds and by doing traditional farming to a greater extent, so that the fertility of the soil can always be maintained. I will make society or the people aware.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

My name is Diprasa Kandha. Village Mandipanka. And Panchayat Bamunia, Block Karimundi, District Kandhamal. I have become aware of traditional farming. I want to preserve traditional seeds and do more traditional farming for my family.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

Name Labaraj Mallik, village Keramaha Block. It would be good if the Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (crops) from before are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

His name is Tahari Mallick, from Salaguda village. It would be good if traditional grains like Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana are brought back now, as they were previously.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Trinath Patra. The village is Pinargaon. Panchayat Pamunia, Block Dharimali, District Kandhamal. I am farming to collect traditional seeds and do traditional farming in a larger quantity. And I will also make society aware so that everyone can do traditional farming in a larger quantity.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

Name Ramesh Mallick, village Salaguda Block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (grains) that were there previously are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

I am Mrs. Aparna Pradhan from Lamungia village, Gram Panchayat Manikeshwar, Kandhamal district. I want to bring back the ancient crops/millets Kujuri, Mandia, and Kangu.

— Sudhakar Pradhan · Kandhamal, Odisha

Name Sahadev Mallick, village Keramaha Block. It would be good if the Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (grains/seeds) that were previously available are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Ananta Mallick, from Salaguda Block village. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana, which were available before, are brought back now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

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

My name is Ashadh Rahit. I see that traditional farming is currently going to be planted. But I hope that by collecting traditional seeds, I will cultivate more, and I will make everyone in our village aware that by doing traditional farming, everyone can be active.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

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

Hello everyone. I am Sanjay. I am a farmer from Gani Gram Panchayat, Tikapali Block, Kandhamal District. I farm using traditional methods and I also save the seeds for the second crop. I also cultivate the second crop in un-irrigated land, from which I benefit greatly. If this process continues, many farmers in my village will also benefit. So the government should give importance to this. All farmers should be able to cultivate a second crop, so please take concrete action for that. Thank you.

— Sanjib Digal · Kandhamal, 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

My village is Madipanka Panchayat, Bamua Block, Daringbadi, Kandhamal District. I feel that the traditional farming methods our ancestors used, without using fertilizers, yielded more crops. Now, even with fertilizers, the yield... I am expressing my wish.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

My name is Anil Raut. I am a farmer. I saw that the current farming method is completely going to erode the soil. But I hope that by collecting traditional seeds, and our village is made aware.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

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

Name Birajee Mallick, from Keramaha village in Purbaru Block. It would be good if Kangu, Kuheri, Mandia, and Jana (grains) are returned now.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Chandrika Pradhan. My village is Panga Bidungia, block is Tikabali. In the olden days, we used to keep seeds in pots. We kept them because, in the olden days, we didn't use fertilizer. Nowadays, we are using fertilizer. That's why we can't keep our seeds for many days. We want to return to the previous state.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Sanjukta Digal. My village is Kamba Naju, GP is Pikarudi, Block is Tikabali. Earlier, we used to get all these things like Mandia, Deddy, Arka, Chana, Makka. And nowadays, we don't get seeds. And our body, our body is also getting very bad. Because now we are only eating processed food. That's why, if we get the old traditional seeds, we want to cultivate and keep our body healthy.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Ghasiram Pradhan. Village Mandipanka. Panchayat Bamuni Block Dhanimali District Kandhamal. I am a good farmer. I wish to cultivate a second crop. But there is a shortage of seeds. As a result, my second crop...

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

My name is Gudi Sapoda. Village Swamagudi, Panchayat Katika, Block Daringbadi, District Kandhamal. I am a farmer. I wish to cultivate a second crop, but I am not able to get the seeds properly. If I could get seeds from the government, then I would cultivate a second crop.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

Name, Sudhir, Baliguda Block. Currently, food items include Mandiān, Kuari, Kangu, Tankujau. It would have been good if the cultivation of these food items had been restarted.

— Manu Digal · Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Mutiy Pradhan. My Gram Panchayat is Pikorodi. My Block is Tikabali. My District is Kandhamal. Our mothers used to store seeds in the olden days. They would keep seeds in pots near the fire in 'Putra Jakore'. Nothing would happen to them. Today, in today's date, farming is done with fertilizer and pesticides, which is why this year, the seeds cannot last even for a year. That's why we want to live like before.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Bikram Kandha. Village Mandi Panka, Panchayat Bamaniga, Block Daringbadi, District Kandhamal. I am a farmer, I very much wish to do a second crop. But due to lack of seeds, I am unable to cultivate. If the government provides me assistance with seeds for the second crop, I will cultivate the second crop and be able to take assistance for the sustenance of my family.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

My name is Jarunal Pradhan, and my village is Piparodi. And the GP (Gram Panchayat) is Piparodi block, Tikabali. In the past, we used to clear the forest there and plant millet, ragi, and corn. But today, we are not able to get those seeds. That's why we are requesting the government for seeds.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Surendra Podra. I am from Gurumundi village, Katinga Gram Panchayat, Dani block, Kandhamal district. I want to highlight the environmental degradation of today. Our ancestors used to live in the forest, depending on roots, greens, and various other things. But... I express my desire to bring back that kind of environment.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha