Over 100 farmers from Yohotsomi B Khel, Kezoma Village participated in millet sowing at Chieza, Kezoma as part of a mass millet cultivation demonstration under National Food Security Mission, 2024-2025, on March 12.
The demonstration was witnessed by officers and Inspectors, Village Council members, village development Board and elders where about three varieties of millet seeds were sown.
With millet gradually becoming a dying practice among farmers in Kohima, Kekhrieletuo Yhome, District Agriculture Officer (DAO) stated that under the NFSM the department is taking up millet on priority basis. “While the success of the mission largely depends on collaborative efforts of the farmers and the support of the government, as part of the mission, the department supports the farmers by providing some financial assistance and technical support as and when required for ensuring good produce of the crop,” informed Yhome.
The need to provide support through machineries to ensure that farmers does not go through the old labour intensive and time consuming practice for millet cultivation and harvesting was also highlighted. Yhome noted that modern machineries such as millet mill will be provided to the farmers for aiding and replacing the pounding of millet.
“Millet has huge nutritional and health benefits and is a rich source of protein. It is also an alternative for rice for diabetic patient. In the olden days, millet was used to substitute rice during July or August when villagers had grain shortage. Birds also begin infestation due to shortage of food supply, which are part of the ecosystem. Another benefit is that it can be a source of generating income given it’s value and availability in the market,” mentioned Yhome.
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He mentioned villages like Kezoma, Chiechama and Mima villages are starting to take up millet on a higher scale. In this regard, he said, as per recent trends, Kezoma Village is among the highest in Kohima to undertake the farming In massive scale.
To promote and preserve millet cultivation, Kikrosa Naki, Chairman, Kezoma Village Council (KVC) mentioned that three villages- Kezoma, Kezo Basa and Kezo Town has undertaken a resolution to observe Chünyi (millet festival) every year on July 20. Further, plots of land to cultivate millet on a large scale has been demarcated by khels and different groups in the village. The Chairman expressed gratitude to the department for continuously extending support to the village in various agriculture practices.
Zadeho Rikha, a village elder and former Chairman of the Kezoma Village Council reflected on how millet was considered the food of the poor in the past while rice cultivators were considered rich in the village. However, the reversal role of millet was highlighted, where Rikha noted, “In the past, our parents exchanged a kilogram of grain for the double of millets, however millets are double the price of rice today.” Encouraging farmers to cultivate millets, the elder also advised them not to take advantage of market rates and high demand but cultivate it for subsistence so that other villages can also emulate their practise.
