In the picturesque state of Meghalaya, where rice, wheat, maize, potatoes, and tapioca dominate as staple foods, one resilient farmer’s determination stands out to change the narrative. Meet Caroline Maring, a 52-year-old farmer from Pahamshiken Village of the new FARM project, she embarked on a mission to revive the long-forgotten millet, also known as krai among the Khasis. Despite its enormous health benefits, millet had been overshadowed by other crops in recent years. However, Caroline’s passion for experimentation and her deep-rooted connection to her heritage motivated her to bring Millet back into the limelight.

Caroline’s journey with millet began long before it gained widespread recognition. Having been raised by parents who cherished millet as their staple food, she understood its significance from an early age. However, as time passed, the importance of millet faded in her village. In 2021, she resolved to reintroduce millet to the current generation and embarked on a quest to find millet seeds. Her persistence paid off when she received her first millet from a family friend in Umta Village, rekindling her excitement for this ancient grain.

Undeterred by the lack of official support, Caroline embraced the role of a trailblazer and began cultivating foxtail millet in 2021. She quickly realized that millet required special attention and a separate location, a task she gladly accepted. Witnessing fruitful growth during her first attempt filled her with enthusiasm and determination to continue her mission.

In March 2021, the Social Service Centre (SSC), under the FARM NE III Project, organized a seed exchange among farmers from Ri Bhoi District, including both FARM Villages and Non-Farm Villages, at Mawryngkang village. Pahamshiken village was one of the participating non-farm villages under Phase III. During the seed exchange, Caroline received three types of indigenous seeds i.e., Beans, Paddy, and Pearl Millet, from Umnngei village which bore fruits. She has now more seeds to be used for the next season. She distributed the seeds to other SHGs (Self-Help Groups) in her village, who have a seed bank to preserve the seeds for the next cultivation.

Caroline discovered another millet variety called Finger Millet on her farmland. With meticulous care and determination, she nurtured both foxtail and finger millet, becoming the go-to person for millet seeds among farmers in her community.

In April 2023, SSC launched FARM NE IV and International Year of Millets (IYoM) on the same day at Pahamshiken village. During the program, there was a knowledge-sharing session on millet by lead farmers from East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, covering the processing of millet and its health benefits. This sharing event transformed Caroline’s millet farming practices. Learning from fellow farmers from East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi District, she adopted new techniques, including using a grinder to process millet. Armed with this newfound knowledge, she encouraged others to join the millet movement, emphasizing its health benefits and income potential. Through the intervention of FARM IV Caroline expanded her millet cultivation to 1 acre of Jhum solely for a millet nursery, generously distributing millet seeds to fellow farmers interested in cultivating this nutritious grain. She cultivated Finger Millet, Foxtail Millet, Krai Kba (local name), and Pearl Millet in her jhum, obtained from the FARM project in the month of May 2023.

Her creativity in the kitchen also flourished as she experimented with new millet recipes, from the traditional ‘Ja Krai’ to millet-based Horlicks and Semolina (Suji). Caroline’s dedication to millets extended beyond her village. She shared millet seeds with farmers in neighboring villages and even ventured into markets in Nongpoh, earning additional income by selling millet seedlings at Rs 50 per bunch and educating consumers about millet cultivation. With dreams of selling millet seeds and products at the Monthly Farmer’s Market and beyond, Caroline’s aspirations know no bounds. Her vision is to contribute to a healthier and more prosperous future for her community through millet cultivation and to pass on the seeds of knowledge to the next generations.

Caroline’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, tradition, and innovation in transforming the agricultural landscape. Her unwavering commitment to reviving millet cultivation has not only enriched her own life but also the lives of countless others in Meghalaya. As the International Year of Millet unfolds, her story serves as an inspiration for farmers, NGOs, and government agencies to join hands in promoting the nutritional and economic benefits of this remarkable grain.