Popularization of Finger Millet Variety VL Mandua 376 in Tawang: Enhancing Farmers' Profitability and Livelihoods
Popularization of Finger Millet Variety VL Mandua 376 in Tawang: Enhancing Farmers' Profitability and Livelihoods

Tawang district, the largest producer of finger millet in Arunachal Pradesh, cultivates 1,260 hectares and yields 990 metric tonnes. Finger millet plays a vital role in local social, cultural, and religious practices, with zan (ragi balls) being a popular food and local beverages like apong and chhang also made from it. However, the district's average yield of 780 kg/ha is significantly lower than the national average of 1,747 kg/ha, mainly due to the use of low-yielding local varieties. The traditional transplanting method presents an opportunity to enhance productivity by adopting modern agricultural techniques.

Popularization of Finger Millet Variety VL Mandua 376 in Tawang: Enhancing Farmers' Profitability and Livelihoods  Popularization of Finger Millet Variety VL Mandua 376 in Tawang: Enhancing Farmers' Profitability and Livelihoods

ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, in collaboration with ICAR-KVK Tawang under the NEH Programme, launched an initiative to boost finger millet productivity in Tawang. The project introduced high-yielding, early-maturing varieties and VL Millet Threshers-cum-Perlers to improve quality and reduce post-harvest labor. VL Mandua 376 emerged as the most promising variety, leading to its wider adoption. Awareness campaigns, supported by the district administration, highlighted the role of millets in regional food security and their global significance through farmers' fairs and field days.

In frontline demonstrations across the Tawang district, VL Mandua 376 produced 35% higher yields (11.5 q/ha) compared to the local finger millet variety (8.5 q/ha). It also matures 3-4 weeks earlier, earning it the nickname ‘teen mahine ka mandua.’ Moreover, VL Mandua 376 boasts a higher grain-to-chaff ratio than the local variety.

As demand for VL Mandua 376 grew, farmer-participatory seed production was initiated in Bletting, Pohang, and Khleteng. In 2022, 200 kg of seed was procured, increasing to 450 kg in 2023, with a target of 1,000 kg for 2024. The seed is distributed to farmers in surrounding villages and blocks.

In Tawang, like in other hill regions, finger millet threshing is done manually, primarily by women, using methods like beating panicles with sticks or vehicular threshing. Both methods pose health risks, with manual threshing being labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to repetitive strain injuries, while vehicular threshing causes harvest loss and unhygienic conditions. Women often suffer from pain and blisters due to prolonged manual work. To address this, VL Millet Thresher-cum-Pearler demonstrations were held, and 18 machines were distributed to farmer groups in 12 villages.

Popularization of Finger Millet Variety VL Mandua 376 in Tawang: Enhancing Farmers' Profitability and Livelihoods  Popularization of Finger Millet Variety VL Mandua 376 in Tawang: Enhancing Farmers' Profitability and Livelihoods

With the intervention of ICAR, KVK Tawang, and the state agriculture department, VL Mandua 376 has been adopted in 34 villages across 4 blocks in Tawang, covering 362 hectares and benefiting 387 households during Kharif 2024.
The VL Millet Thresher-cum-Pearler drastically improved threshing efficiency, handling 500 kg in 10 man-hours compared to the 45 man-hours needed for manual threshing. It reduced women's labor by saving 77.7% of time, easing posture, and cutting discomfort by 56%, while also lowering exposure to organic dust. Women farmers appreciated the threshers for reducing the tedious work, which they believe will improve their long-term health. This rapid adoption is expected to significantly boost finger millet productivity and profitability in the region.

With the scale and quality of finger millet cultivation in Tawang, the district has strong potential to become a regional seed production hub. ICAR-VPKAS, Almora, in collaboration with KVK Tawang and the district administration, plans to expand farmer participatory seed production, ensuring the local availability of high-quality VL Mandua 376 seeds and supporting the organic branding of finger millet produce.

(Source: ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora)

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