PREM PRAKASH UPADHYAY/ Bageshwar
Once dismissed as the ‘poor man’s grain’ of the hills, finger millet (mandua/ragi) keeps steadily emerging as a key source of prosperity for farmers across Uttarakhand. Growing health awareness and rising global demand for nutritious millets have brought this traditional crop from subsistence farming into the mainstream market. This year, both production and government procurement of mandua in Bageshwar district have broken all previous records.
According to the Cooperative department, a total of 1,142 quintals of mandua was procured from 71 farmers through 13 procurement centres across the district. The grain was purchased at a rate of Rs 48.86 per kilogram, amounting to a total value of Rs 55.79 lakh. Payments have been directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
The registrar of Cooperatives, Ashish Kumar stated that farmers are being consistently encouraged to expand mandua cultivation in the coming years. “This crop holds strong economic and ecological potential for hill agriculture,” he added.
Mandua occupies a significant place among Uttarakhand’s traditional and nutritious crops. Rich in calcium, iron, dietary fibre and essential amino acids, it is considered highly beneficial for bone health, diabetes management and digestion. Its ability to thrive with minimal water and produce good yields even on barren and sloping land makes it an ideal crop for the mountainous regions.
Beyond strengthening local food security, it is increasingly contributing to the farmers’ incomes. Market demand for mandua flour has risen sharply with prices touching Rs 60 per kg. At some places, it is sold at the rate of Rs 80 per kg.
The crop is widely cultivated across the hill districts of the State. Major producing districts include Bageshwar, Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat and Nainital in the Kumaon region and Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag in the Garhwal region. The moderate altitude and rain-fed agricultural land in these areas are well-suited for mandua cultivation. This is why the farmers are evincing increasing interest in going for mandua cultivation with the help of government agencies and the agricultural scientists
The agricultural scientists say that with Uttarakhand having favourable conditions for this farming practice, it is poised to give the traditional agriculture of Uttarakhand a new identity while paving the way for sustainable income growth and economic empowerment of the farmers.
