In a major initiative aimed at ensuring food security of tribals in Attappady, the Agriculture Department is planning to implement a mega millet cultivation drive in the backward region with the active involvement of the local community. The programme will cover all the 192 tribal settlements in the region.
To be started in April next with an initial outlay of Rs 1.8 crore, the project would ensure cultivation of different kinds of millets including Ragi. Groundnut and various lentils also would be cultivated as part of the drive.
A comprehensive survey was conducted in this regard across Attappady and tribals have responded positively to the move.
Experts have already recommended revival of the traditional practice of cultivating millets would help the tribals of the region in achieving self-sufficiency in food apart from fighting poverty, malnutrition and different ailments.
Millets, which once formed part of the staple diet of the tribespeople in the region, had gradually disappeared from their traditional cuisine after agriculture began incurring loss and daily wage work on lands owned by non-tribals became more profitable.