Biofortified Finger Millet Reaches Farmers in North Goa

Farmers in North Goa are being introduced to a biofortified finger millet variety called Indravati as agricultural agencies look to combine crop production with better nutrition and climate resilience.

On August 5, ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra North Goa organised a farmer training programme at Ugavem Panchayat in Pernem. The programme focused on scientific nutrient management and the cultivation of Indravati finger millet.

The ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute said the programme was designed to help farmers understand improved finger millet cultivation while promoting a variety that can contribute to household nutrition and farm income.

Indravati brings nutrition into crop selection

Biofortified crops are developed or selected to contain higher levels of specific nutrients than conventional varieties. The approach seeks to improve the nutritional value of foods people already consume rather than depending only on dietary supplements.

Finger millet is already an important millet crop in parts of India. It can be cultivated under relatively difficult growing conditions and forms part of traditional diets in several states.

During the North Goa programme, farmers received information about Indravati and scientific nutrient management for finger millet. ICAR described the variety as part of an effort to promote “nutri-smart agriculture” in the region.

Farmers were encouraged to consider the variety for its potential contribution to nutrition, resilience and income. The programme also highlighted the need to use appropriate cultivation practices rather than relying on the seed variety alone.

Biofortified crops are gaining attention

India’s agricultural research system has been expanding work on biofortified crop varieties.

At ICAR’s Annual General Meeting on August 18, Director General M.L. Jat said 386 new crop varieties had been released during the previous year. Of these, 29 were biofortified varieties. ICAR also reported that 94% of the newly released varieties were climate resilient.

The figures show how crop breeding priorities are expanding beyond yield. Breeders are increasingly looking at nutrition, heat and drought tolerance, disease resistance and other characteristics that can help farmers and consumers.

For farmers, these traits need to translate into performance in the field. A nutritious variety still needs suitable yield, market demand, seed availability and adaptation to local conditions before farmers can benefit from growing it.

Millet can fit farms facing weather risks

Millets have received greater attention because many varieties can perform under conditions where water availability is limited. This makes them relevant in areas facing irregular rainfall and other weather-related risks.

The government and ICAR are also promoting millets as part of climate-resilient farming programmes. In Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, for example, ICAR-CRIDA recently advised farmers to cultivate millets and adopt measures such as rainwater harvesting, agroforestry and biofertilisers as part of preparations for anticipated El Niño conditions.

This does not mean all millets need little water or will perform equally well everywhere. Farmers still need to choose varieties according to rainfall, soil, sowing season and local recommendations.

For North Goa farmers, the current programme offers an opportunity to test a biofortified variety under local farming conditions.

Seed access will be an important part of wider adoption. Farmers also need information on sowing time, nutrient requirements, pest management, harvesting and potential buyers.

The North Goa programme is small in scale, but it reflects a wider shift in crop development. Agricultural research is increasingly trying to combine productivity with nutrition and the ability to cope with weather stress.

For farmers, Indravati’s value will ultimately depend on its performance in their fields and whether there is sufficient demand for the grain.

If those conditions are met, biofortified finger millet could give farmers another crop option while putting more nutritious grain into local food systems.