When was the last time one enjoyed a warm bowl of Tizann or
relished a few Pinagr? If any form of millets have vanished from the Goan diet,
it is time to understand its health benefits and not just consume but even
cultivate these tiny seeds. Giving this idea a boost is that fact that this
year has been declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) by
the United Nations General Assembly following a proposal from India, as one of
the largest cultivators or millets in the world.
Goa will be one of the States that will be celebrating
millets in the biggest day- long programme, this Sunday, at the first-ever
Nachneachem Fest on Sunday, March 12, from 11 am to 5 pm, at the Agricultural
Farm, Duler, Mapusa. Organised by the Directorate of Agriculture, the festival
is curated by Festakar Marius Fernandes and Dr Gwendolyn De Ornelas.
To give a better understanding about millets and to create
awareness, for the first time in the history of Carnival, 45 Officers of
Agriculture Department participated in the float presented by Directorate of
Agriculture, Ela, Old Goa to promote Millets in Goa. Their message was loud and
clear, ‘Grow Millets, Eat Millets, Stay Healthy.’ Post the carnival, their
telephone lines were buzzing as Goans from all the talukas were interested in
cultivating millets. “There is a lot of interest among farmers and even new
farmers. We got calls from all the talukas who were curious to know to go about
cultivating the seeds, where the seeds are available, the technical details to
follow up on the growth of the crop,” says Nevil Alphonso, Director of
Agriculture.
He further explains the plans that the Department of
Agriculture has for the months of April-May. “We will be campaigning in the
villages of Goa and trying to convince and motivate farmers to take up
cultivating millets. The crop can be grown in both seasons with proper
irrigation and in the hilly region, it can be grown in the rainy season where
water is not stagnant. It is a crop that can be grown even in poor soil
conditions without much care and maintenance. Even the attack of insects is
very negligible,” adds Nevil. Nevil will play an important role at the
Nachneachem fest as he will guide the participants to the different benefits of
millets with his conservation with Miguel Braganza for Bolcaocheo Gozalli.
“This is the first and unique event which will be a zero
waste fest, revival of our foods and inclusive with a celebration of Goan
culture, knowledge, economic empowerment of communities, music, revival of food
and recipes and inclusion of all communities. There will a Konkani cultural
programme around the millets and stalls that will sell millet based food,
drinks and flours. I am very excited about this festival as it is not one
community but people coming together to create a festival. There will be five
schools from Mapusa, Aldona and Porvorim that will be performing,” says Marius,
as he overlooks the preparation at the Agricultural Farm in Duler.
The celebrations will begin sharp at 11 am with the ‘Millet
Dance’ by Chubby Cheeks School, Porvorim. St Britto High School, Mapusa will
present a ‘Millet Skit’ followed by Bolcaocheo Gozalli with Miguel Braganza in
conversation with Nevil. There will be a workshop on the preparation of the
much relished Goan delicacy, Tizann. Agriculture officers will also present a
dance performance. The students of St Anthony’s High School, Duler will present
a monologue followed by Bolcaocheo Gozalli with Goan farmer, Suraj Ranji. Next,
students of St Thomas High School, Aldona will present a skit.
Konkani pop star O’luv has composed an original millet song
that will be sung for the first time at the festival, supported by Willy Goes
on guitar. A street play will be performed by the students of Vidhya Pramodini
High School, Porvorim followed by a workshop on another Goan delicacy, Amil. In
the next series of Bolcaocheo Gozalli, Pallavi Shetye will be speaking to
Kishore Bhave.
Any festival is incomplete without the beats of the ghumot
and this festival too, the women will take the centrestage with the Ghumtacho
Nach. Getting back to the awareness of farming, there will be a workshop on
grafting, followed by a skit by Agriculture employees, a song sung by Aditi and
to conclude, a Kalakar dance and skit on millets.
“At the festival, many stalls are run by women showcasing
old recipes with new blend all around the millet. There are many cultural
programmes with women on the forefront and it will be women in the future, who
will be the source to bring the millet based dishes from the gardens into their
home for the health benefits of the family. There is going to be a lot of
discussions on the millets and besides reviving the old recipes, there will be
new variations on the table, including a ragi cake!,” concludes Marius, looking
forward to the Nachneachem Fest, hoping to unite children, youngsters and the
elders with the Goan spirit to revive this superfood.
