A new energy was sparked in cultivating millets all over India, including Goa when the United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). One of the largest cultivators of millets in the world, India would be taking the lead in bringing about awareness about this superfood. An integral part of the Goan diet, these millets are making a comeback in a big way. Goa was one of the first states of India that celebrated millets in a day-long programme at the first-ever Nachneachem Fest in Mapusa, now South Goa will be celebrating Navelim Millet Festival 2023 on October 29, from 3 pm onwards at the Village Panchayat Hall, Navelim.
Navelim Millet Festival 2023 is organised by Navelim Biodiversity Management Committee and Village Panchayat Navelim in association with Our Lady of Rosary Church, Rosary College, Department of Agriculture, Government of Goa and Lions Club Navelim. The idea for the festival has been in the planning for the past 2-3 months as this is an effort of uniting the village. Chairperson of Navelim Biodiversity Management Committee, Priya Almeida informs, “Millets is a wonder crop that grows on land that is difficult to cultivate as well as it is low cost. There was a reason people who ate tizann were healthy and during Covid-19 many people realised its importance and made dietary changes. Fr Gabriel Coutinho, parish priest of Our Lady of Rosary Church had this dream of uniting the community and Prof Helic M Barretto, principal of Rosary College were instrumental in pursuing this idea of a festival.”
The evening will consists of on stage and off stage events. The on stage events will include theme dance and ward-wise traditional dance competition. The off stage events will include ward-wise millet dish cooking competition and interactive lectures by Krishi Vigyan Kendra. There will be stalls by self-help groups and an exhibition on millets by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Directorate of Agriculture.
“The aim of the Navelim Millets Festival 2023 is to unite the village and so we have organised ward-wise competitions. The theme of the festival is ‘Millets: An ancient grain for modern health’. Once the festival was announced, there has been so much enthusiasm among the villagers. People who used to cultivate together are now planning to cook together for the competition and it is a community event. We have been so lost and separated by greed, jealously and religion that it is important for us to come together,” says Priya.
As part of the mandate of the Navelim Biodiversity Management Committee, they have the responsibility to conserve biodiversity through the species of plants, trees, animals and birds. “We have to create a register of all the biodiversity that is found in the village. In the same way, we also have to create a register of traditional healers and tap into the knowledge of these people who use locally found plants, trees and roots to create medicines for various ailments. They should be encouraged to share their knowledge at least with their family members. Once they pass away that knowledge is lost forever,” adds Priya.
On Sunday, a zonal agricultural officer will be presenting a talk to the Navelim villagers about millets and motivate them to get back to cultivating millets. “We have lost the touch of farming and are more focused on paddy cultivation. The talk will motivate and mobilise the villagers to look at millet cultivation from a new perspective and will help start a millet cultivation,” concludes Priya optimistically.
