Minor millets in South Asia: learnings from IFAD-NUS project in India ...

Food seCuritY and inCome generation through Finger millet CultiVation in nepal 107
Food Security and Income Generation of Rural People through
the Cultivation of Finger Millet in Nepal
R.C. Prasad, R.P. Upreti, S. Thapa, L.B. Jirel, P.R. Shakya and D.N. Mandal
Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Hill Crops Research Programme,
Kabre, Dolakha, Nepal
1. Introduction
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is the fourth cereal crop in Nepal in terms of
acreage and production after rice, maize and wheat (ABPSD, 2004) and is one of the
most important mandate crops of Hill Crops Research Programme (HCRP, 2003).
It is a cheap and widely accessible source of food for the poor people dwelling
in remote hilly regions of the country and a good income generation crop for the
extremely poor farmers. It occupied 7.73% area and contributed 3.66% of the total
cereal production of the country during 2003-04. The crop is relayed with maize
under mid-hill environment of eastern and central parts of the country, while it
is grown under mono-culture in western region possibly due to the differences in
rainfall pattern and irrigation facilities. The grain is mainly consumed in the form
of porridge and bread but a major part of the produce is utilized for preparing the
beverages. Consumption of the grain is considered good for the people suffering
from blood pressure, heart diseases, and type II diabetes and is also useful for the
development of bone and teeth in children. Although the crop plays a vital role in
food security and also in nutritional security, being a rich source of calcium (Ca)
and iron (Fe), it is still considered as a low status food in the society in Nepal. In
order to address some of these issues and mobilize greater benefits to the Nepalese
resource poor farmers, a project “Enhancing the Contribution of Neglected and
Underutilized Species to Food Security and to Incomes of the Rural Poor” supported
by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) was successfully
implemented during the period 2002-2004.
2. Objectives
The project had the following main objectives:
To utilize the potential of finger millet genetic resources through development
oriented research, which contributes to enhance the income and strengthen
the food security of small farmers
To change peoples’ perception of the crop through the development of novel
value added products of millets and thus contribute to its wider acceptance
by the society
To raise awareness among the people about the importance and diverse uses
of the crop, including the industrial applications such as the production of
alcohol for licensed use and production of new types of beverages of nonalcoholic
nature