Vinodha stands tall, shows farmers the way by growing millets

In what can be termed as a bright spot in a rather dismal scenario in the farming sector, the story of Meedoddi Vinodha stands out. The small time farmer from Nagwar village in Medak has grown 25 types of millets in three acres land and has reaped Rs 2 lakh profit after saving enough food for her family and cattle.

In contrast just a stone’s throw away, other farmers in spite of spending thousands for fertilisers and seeds grew BT cotton and were not able to make even Rs 10,000. Vinodha says, “The trick is to grow what is suited to Telangana and our forefathers have always been growing millets, which need very less water in comparison to rice.”

In her three acres, Vinodha grew millets such as jowar, bajra, foxtail, little millet and a host of other millets along with greens. This ensured a regular supply of food and fodder for her family as well as the cattle. For her efforts the Telangana Government recently honoured her with an award for ‘excellence in farming’.

Her mentor for the last few years P V Satheesh, director, Deccan Development Society and national convenor, Millet Network of India says, “This kind of farming doesn’t need chemical fertilisers, chemical pesticides and these farmers never buy seed from outside. They plant seeds that are saved from the previous years’s crop.”

Vinodha says that farmers who grow millets would never have to commit suicide as the expenses are low and there is hardly any dependence on the seed companies or for water. “Telangana agriculture is rooted in millets and we need to go back to them,” she concludes.