COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MILLETS
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MILLETS
IN KERALA
IN KERALA
Mr. Vigil Raj & Ms. Fathima Bind Ayyub
AGENDA
• INTRODUCTION

• 15 WAYS TO ACHIEVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN
KERALA

• MONITORING AND EVALUATION

• CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

• CASE STUDIES

• CONCLUSION

• REFERENCES
 INTRODUCTION
Millets, often overlooked in modern agriculture, hold immense
potential due to their adaptability to diverse climates and
nutritional richness. Harnessing the power of millets involves
active community engagement and a shift toward
entrepreneurial thinking.

The primary objective of this paper is to shed light on how

community involvement in millet-related activities can not
only enhance local economies but also foster entrepreneurial
initiatives that contribute to sustainable development.

Promoting community participation and entrepreneurship

development through millets in Kerala involves tailoring
strategies to the specific socio-economic and agro-climatic
conditions of the region.
15 STEPS TO ACHIEVE
COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION AND
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DEVELOPMENT IN KERALA
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
AND AWARENESS.

 Conduct awareness campaigns in local languages to

educate communities about the nutritional benefits and
economic potential of millets.
 Organize community meetings and workshops to discuss
TRAINING AND SKILL
the advantages of millet cultivation and entrepreneurship.
DEVELOPMENT.

 Provide training programs on millet

farming, sustainable agricultural
practices, and post-harvest management.

• Offer entrepreneurial skills training,

including business planning, marketing,
and financial management
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
EXCHANGE:

• Facilitating platforms for local knowledge

exchange encourages communities to share
traditional practices related to millet
cultivation, which strengthens community
bonds and contributes to the collective FORMATION OF FARMER PRODUCER
learning process. ORGANIZATIONS(FPO’S):

 Facilitate the establishment of Farmer

Producer Organizations to bring farmers
together for collective decision-making,
resource-sharing, and market access.
 FPOs can enable better negotiation with
buyers and enhance the overall bargaining
power of farmers.
 SEED BANKS AND EXCHANGE
PROGRAMS:

 Establish community-based seed banks to

preserve local millet varieties and ensure
a sustainable seed supply.

SETTING UP PROCESSING
Encourage seed exchange programs to
UNITS:
promote biodiversity and resilience in
millet cultivation.  Support the establishment of small-scale
millet processing units within or near
communities.
 Encourage the production of value-added
millet products like flours, snacks, and
ready- to-eat items.

Women at the forefront of preserving of traditional millet varieties – Role of community seed bank
in preserving and aiding millet cultivation and consumption in Kolli Hills, Namakkal
MARKET LINKAGES:

 Facilitate connections between local

millet entrepreneurs and markets,
restaurants, and retailers.
 Organize farmers' markets or participate
in existing ones to directly connect ACCESS TO FINANCE:
producers with consumers.
 Collaborate with financial institutions and
government schemes to provide affordable credit
to millet entrepreneurs.
 Explore community-based financing models like
rotating savings and credit associations.
PROMOTION OF WOMEN
ENTREPRENEURS:

 Implement initiatives specifically aimed

at empowering women in millet-based
entrepreneurship.
 Provide training, mentorship, and
CULINARY PROMOTION AND
financial support to women entrepreneurs FOOD FESTIVALS:
in the millet sector.
Kudumbashree organises Gothrapperuma 2019 at Kerala Legislative Assembly ComplexPosted on
 Organize events and festivals that
Friday, November 22, 2019Kudumbashree Mission organises Gothrapperuma 2019 at Kerala
Legislative Assembly Complex for selling the branded products of the tribal communities at Kerala
Legislative Assembly Complex, Thiruvananthapuram on 20 and 21 November 2019. The 'Exhibition highlight millet-based cuisines.
cum Sales Mela' of the branded tribal products for the members of the Kerala legislative assembly is
being organised near the 5D Hall at Kerala Legislative Assembly Complex. The branded products from
the tribal areas of Attappady, Athirappally and Idukki are for sale at the exhibition cum sales fair. The
traditional products and agro based value added products of tribal communities have general
acceptance and are of high demand among the general public. It is on this background their products
• Encourage local chefs and entrepreneurs to
were branded and brought for sale.The agro products produced by the Gothrasamithis of Attappady is
branded in the name 'Hill Value' and the products of the Kadar community of
Malakkappara/Athirappally area is branded as 'Kananam Athirappally'. Whereas, the products of the
tribal community of Idukki is brought to the market in the brand name 'Kuravan Kurathi'. The products
showcase their millet products and recipes.
under 'Hill Value' brand include coffee, turmeric powder, coriander powder, chilli powder, pickles,
njavara, cardamom, clove, brindleberry, ragi, chama, thina, amara, thumara, tamarind, pepper,
kungilyam, honey, sesame, cinnamon and the products under 'Kuravan Kurathi' brand includes
Stingless bee honey, ragi and brindleberry. Honey, coffee and pepper are the main products branded
under 'Kananam Athirappally' brand.
VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS:
• Encouraging entrepreneurs to explore value
addition to millets, such as producing
millet-based flour, snacks, or beverages,
creates a market for diverse millet products
and boosts entrepreneurship
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY:

• Millets are known for their low water and

input requirements, making them

Hill value environmentally sustainable. This aligns

with the principles of eco-friendly
agriculture and resource conservation.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION:

• The cultivation and consumption of millets

are deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of
many communities. Promoting millets helps
preserve cultural practices and traditional
knowledge. DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND
E-COMMERCE:
Millet farming is a traditional, virtuous act for adivasisIt is early September. On the hillside farms of Edavani, a Kurumba
hamlet in Pudur panchayat, finger millet crops are just about getting mature, watered by springs and streams. “Ragi,
chama, tomara, amara…” the villagers chant the local names of finger millet, little millet, lentils and beans that are
cultivated together to keep the soil fertile. The chant is sacred for the Irula, Muduga and Kurumba adivasis of the 192
hamlets of Attappadi. Millets are a part of their socio-cultural bonding, unlike the cash crops, explained Udayakumar B., a
social worker belonging to the Muduga community from Chittur village of Agali panchayat. “Our generation inherited the
techniques to grow ragi, chama, tomara, amara from our forefathers. We remember them, sow the seeds with their
blessings, harvest the crop, and share meals,” he said.Millet farming is a “virtuous” act, led by the mannookkaran
 Help entrepreneurs leverage digital
(farming ritualist), who assists the ooru mooppan (hamlet chief), along with the vandari (treasurer) and the kuruthala
(jurist) in village affairs. He chants while preparing the field, sowing, de-weeding, and harvesting crops. “Every season, I
invoke our ancestors before sowing the first round. Only then do the villagers start sowing,” said Kuppan Mannookkaran platforms for marketing and selling millet
at Veetiyoor, a Muduga hamlet. “Most millets grow in three months, and lentils, beans and one kind of finger millet in six
months. I harvest the first finger millet crop in September, and then the villagers follow suit,” he said.
products.

 Provide training on online marketing, e-

An important milestone for the initiative was the setting up the Lenovo Digital Centre for
Kanthalloor Millets at the IHRD College for Applied Sciences, Kanthalloor, to ensure that commerce platforms, and social media
the community had access to technology tools to succeed under the project. The centre
has enabled the farming community to use digital access. It has emerged as the hub for promotion.
important information about government schemes like state crop insurance, crop
diversification schemes, subsidies, peer learning, and sharing insights on millet cultivation
methods. Today, farmers in Kanthalloor use smartphones to access information and stay
connected with the digital centre, volunteers, and the community.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AND
POLICY ADVOCACY:

 Advocate for supportive policies at the state

and local levels, including subsidies,
incentives, and favorable regulations for
millet cultivation and entrepreneurship.
 Collaborate with government agencies to
integrate millet promotion into broader
agricultural and nutritional policies.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION

 Establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact of millet
projects on both community participation and entrepreneurship.

 Use feedback from community members and entrepreneurs to adapt and improve project
strategies.
 By combining these strategies with a focus on local needs and contexts, community
participation and entrepreneurship development through millets in Kerala can contribute
to sustainable agricultural practices, economic empowerment, and improved food security.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

No study is complete without acknowledging challenges. We address hurdles such as marketing

constraints, seed availability, and processing facilities. Simultaneously, we shed light on the
vast opportunities that millet entrepreneurship presents for sustainable agriculture, improved
livelihoods, and nutritional security.
 CASE STUDY

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 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the
symbiotic relationship between community
participation and entrepreneurship development
in the context of millets in Kerala. As we
navigate the complexities of modern agriculture
and nutrition, it is imperative to recognize the
invaluable role communities play in shaping a
sustainable and prosperous future.
REFERENCES

1. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. (2007). 2006 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship. Centre for Women
Leadership: Babson.
2. Kamatar MY, Sreeramaiah H, Meghana, Talawar S, Naik RK (2013) Evaluation of Little Millet (Panicum
sumatrense) Land Races for Cooking and Nutritional Composition. Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2: 7-11.
3. Mathanghi SK, Sudha K. Functional and phytochemical properties of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) for health.
International Journal of Pharmaceutical, Chemical, and Biological Sciences. 2012; 2(4):431-438.
4. Mamatha Rani R, Chavan UD, Kotecha PM and Lande SB Preparation and storage study of millet puttu,
International Journal of Chemical Studies 2019; 7(3): 4453-4457, IJCS 2019; 7(3): 4453-4457.
5. NAAS (2013). "Role of Millets in Nutritional Security of India". Policy Paper No. 66, National Academy of
Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi: 16 p.

6. Rao BD, Kandlakunta B, Arlene Christina GD, Sudha Devi G (2017) Nutritional and Health Benefits
of Millets. National Food Security Mission.
7. APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority). (Accessed on 20 January
2024) Kerala Millet Value Added Products Catalogue. [Online]Available:
https://apeda.gov.in/milletportal/files/Kerala_Millet_Value_Added_Products_Catalog ue.pdf

8. ICAR - Indian Institute of Millets Research. (Accessed on 20 January 2024) [Online] Available: https://
www.millets.res.in/
9. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). (Accessed on 20 January 2024) Kerala's Tribal Farmers Sow
Success with Millets. [Online] Available: https://www.mssrf.org/our-
stories/keralas-tribal-farmers-sow-success-with-millets/
10. ITDP Attappady. (Accessed on 20 January 2024) Millet Village for Food Security. [Online] Available:
https://itdpattappady.kerala.gov.in/2018/03/21/millet-village-for- food-security/
11. Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala. (Accessed on 20 January 2024) Agro Products
Produced by Gothrasamithis, Attappady Branded under the Name Hill Value. [Online] Available:
https://lsgkerala.gov.in/en/kudumbashree/news/agro- products-produced-gothrasamithis-attappady-branded-name-hill-
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Thank You
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