Caritas India and Amaravati district administration jointly organised a five-day district level Krishi Mahotsav, an agriculture festival to celebrate the innovations, wisdom and the success of farmers, from 1 to 5 March 2023. The festival also marked the commencement of the district level campaign to promote millets as a solution to achieve greater food and nutrition security for the district that has witnessed several waves of chronic hunger.

Addressing the inaugural session Dr. Anil Bonde, Member of Parliament said that the central and state governments have been honestly and intensively working for the welfare of farmers and have implemented scores of programmes for protecting the interests of farmers. “All departments and civil society organisations need to work in unison to reach the benefits of government programmes to farmers. The commitment of the Union and state governments to eradicate poverty and hunger of farmers need to be translated into concrete action”, the lawmaker said. He appreciated Caritas India for her contributions to eradicating malnutrition in the Melghat region. Dr. Bonde also thanked Caritas India for collaborating with the district administration to organise the district level farmers festival. “Caritas India’s extensive experience and knowledge base will immensely help the district administration to make agriculture more sustainable and protect the livelihood and food security of farmers”, Dr. Bonde said.

Ms. Navneet Ravi Rana, Member of Parliament, Ms. Pavneet Kaur Divisional Commissioner and district collector, Padmashree Dr. Ravindra Kolhe and several senior district officials were present in the inaugural ceremony. During the ceremony, Ms. Navneet Ravi Rana released a booklet ‘Millets: Significance and Improved Cultivation Practices’ authored by Dr. Mukund Deshmukh, assistant manager of SABAL programme of Caritas India. The booklet illustrates the virtues of the seven millets that the local Korku community collectively recognises as ‘Devdhan’ or the grains gifted to them by God.

Ms. Pavneet Kaur, the divisional commissioner and collector of Amravati district, in her address listed the schemes that have been recently launched by the state government and presented the brief of successes of district departments and agencies that work on agriculture. “Well-being of farmers is a top priority of the district administration. We are making all efforts to reach right technology and other farm support to farmers so that farm production is increased and farmers get good price for their produces”, the divisional commissioner said.

More than 150 exhibition stalls were set up at the festival ground which showcased farm produces and value added products of farmers. Caritas India and her local partners had opened ten stalls at the venue which gave a glimpse of the tribal food system including millets and forest-based food. The stalls were equipped with knowledge resources on millets and their processing and value addition. The luminaries who visited the stalls include Mr. Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP national general secretary, Ms. Vasudhatai Deshmukh and Mr. Avishyant Panda, the Janpad CEO.

Ms. Navneet Ravi Rana, Member of Parliament, in her address highlighted the initiatives of the central and state governments to protect the interests of farmers. She said that the central and state governments are committed to removing the distress of farmers and to provide a secure tomorrow for all farmers. “India is the land of millets which have very hight potential to provide food and nutrition security to people. Considering the significant role millets can play in providing food and nutrition security, Government of India had announced special packages for millet promotion. It is a matter of pride for India that the United Nations announced the year as Year of Millets at the persuasion of India”, Ms. Navneet Rana said.

Later in the technical session, Dr. Saju MK, Zone Programme Lead – West, spoke on the necessity of recognising and respecting indigenous food systems and promoting culturally appropriate food and nutrition systems as sustainable solution for food and nutrition insecurity that has gripped some parts of the country. Dr. Mukund Deshmukh, Assistant Manager of SABAL programme, also presented a session on significance of millets in the contexts of the tribal communities. Dr. Mukund spoke on the critical role that millets have played in the food and nutrition security of Adivasis. He also spoke on the cultural importance that millets have enjoyed in the past and how millets came to be known and respected as ‘Devdhan’.

Jeevan Vikas Sanstha (JVS), Matruschya Social Welfare Society (MSWS), Dayasagar Hospital and Khandwa Diocesan Social Services (KDSS), the four Caritas India partners who implement SABAL programme had opened stalls during the five-day farmers festival.