People having millet in their diet has been growing, and in fact, this was also spoken about by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently in Mann ki Baat. Today, The Pioneer connects with the “Millet women of India” Sharmila Oswal, who spoke about millets, the government supporting the initiative, and more.
Shikha Duggal
This year has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Millet following a proposal by India, which wants to position itself as a global hub of millets. One has to thank the efforts of our farmers and the millet woman of our country, who is driving the emphasis on this cereal. Sharmila Oswal: a multifaceted individual, who is currently leading the millet movement has received recognition from the government and is on her way participating in several international forums as a result of her ongoing efforts.
In an exclusive interview with the native of Alibaug, we learned how she has been engaging in reviving millets for so many years now.
She describes, “Millets, commonly referred to as “superfoods” are renowned for their high nutritional content, but despite their many health benefits, their production is less than that of other crops since there is less market demand. When we look at a state like Maharashtra, for instance, which is a major producer of jowar sorghum, the consumption pattern is relatively low. This is due to the farmers’ reluctance to plant millets since there is less demand for them than there is for rice and wheat.”
So, also the founder of Gudmom — she believes that millets were part of the mainstream diet for a long, but were sabotaged by corporates that marketed rice and wheat. Hence, “The title came instantly to me, because for the past twenty years: I have been extensively working with farmers and tribal families in terms of providing them a better training in growing millets, organic and regenerative agriculture. Millets have always been my specialty! In the year 2018, there was a national level movement on millets and since 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets, I have had frequent interactions with the media, conducting workshops, seminars, participating in exhibitions, trade fairs, where I have given presentations on topics like the benefits of millets, why to cultivate these crops, revenue and export point. As an expert in this field, I am often approached in empowering the women farmers in to grow millets and increase the value chain of millet product be it in packaging, grading, sorting, screening. We are forming a woman corporative of millets!”
Relentlessly campaigning across the country, the millet woman of India has a lot to provide to the masses and let them know how the maximum capitalisation should be on millets!
With her continual efforts, she shared, “It’s the inclusion of millet in parliament canteens that has resulted in a significant food revolution in our country. There has been a mandate issued to every ministry to start millet cuisine and snacks in their department! Due to this move, there has been huge propaganda for millets to be introduced into people’s day-to-day lives. When I go to international forums, many countries and foreign leaders are unfamiliar with millets because they were once thought to be animal fodder. Recently, I was at the G20 summit, various delegates from other countries visited the stalls and saw variety of millet products. For them it was a huge surprise on how one can make such wonderful, delicious, tasty but at the same time nutritious products from this ancient grain!”
She received the top industry leader Award 2022 in organic farming and millets. Millets have been found to be extremely useful as a substitute for gluten-based staples and has shown to help combat lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension, among others. However, a lot needs to be done to bring these staples back into the daily lives of the majority and that is where the millet evangelist is creating a larger impact.
Talking about the health-conscious youth, she says, “Every second person I know is either suffering from diabetes, PCOD, hormonal issues, or other health issues that are very common. The youth of today have become conscious eaters who prefer to eat healthy millet-based products over unhealthy junk snacks and that’s more so post covid. My pre-diabetes medications have stopped. There are scientific evidence from research that proves millets to be helpful in reversing a lot of medical conditions and I am a living example of it. Since Maharashtra was practically a part of Hyderabad during India’s pre-independence era, millet rotis were a frequent diet of people’s diets and livelihoods. The younger age is catching on to the older generation’s eating habits and favoring jowar rotis as well nowadays.”
Adding more to this “fit” conversation, she says, “Many millets are grown by tribal families and are extremely economical because they are self-sufficient. The crops are climate-friendly and regenerative, and it is the best crop to grow. Tribal families grow and eat a variety of millet and it is quite evident looking at their immunity and live a medicine-free life that millets are truly a superfood. My country’s prime minister praising our efforts will be my Padma Shri and his support in boosting my start-up. My Padma Shri is being a “Millet Woman of India” already. The best thing is that, even as a millet entrepreneur, I was acknowledged and appreciated by our Prime Minister for my smart agriculture in Mann ki Baat. Working for my country, being a true change-maker, and opening new doors and horizons for our country’s nutrition and food security is the greatest honour and pleasure.”
