Millet Sisters: Showcasing success of the small woman farmer

Somajiguda: On the occasion of International Women’s Day, All India Millet Sisters Network (AIMS) has been awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017 by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to women empowerment, the award was presented by the President of India in New Delhi on Thursday.

Speaking at the press conference at Press club, Director of Deccan Development Society PV Satheesh said that the Millet Sisters Network is a celebration of very small women farmers who have infused life into the concept of millets by cultivating, on serving and consuming millets. AIMS which was launched in November 2016 has about 5,000 women farmers membership across the country.

The Deccan Development Society which was the earliest NGO in India to have thought and articulated the primacy of women as farmers is the home to Millet Sisters. While the Millet Sisters celebrate the Nari Puraskar recognition by the Government of India, they are not ready to deviate from their concerns expressed in the pledge they made early this year to welcome the decision of Government of India in requesting the UNO to declare this year as the International Year of Millets.

Speaking to The Hans India a farmer and member of Millet Sister Chandramma said that she has a farm of 20 acres with millets, Jawar and other bio-diverse crops. She said that these are all bio-diverse farms and millet based farms as rain water is only resource they have.