The International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) was celebrated by NIRMAN along with Kutia Kondh community at Guma gram panchayat office in Tumudibandh block in Kandhamal district with a renewed pledge to work on family farming. More than 78 farmers had joined the programme, which was part of collaboration with Millets Network of India (MINI).
NIRMAN team member Bhuleswar Naik gave a brief overview of the significance of the IYFF. He said that the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has declared 2014 as International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) in order to recognise family farming and smallholder farming by focusing world attention on its significant role in alleviating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting environment and achieving sustainable development, in particular, in rural areas.
NIRMAN has been working with over 1,000 peasant families in Kandhamal district of which 440 are Kutia Kondh Advasis practicing millet-based bio-diverse farming. Their major preoccupation is cultivating food crops in an ecological approach which fits to the aims of the IYFF. In this context, NIRMAN and Kutia community together declared to support the development of agricultural, environmental and social policies conducive to sustainable family farming practices.
Guma Sarpanch lokanath Majhi said their farming practice is being recognised today by institution like the UN. It is high time the Government refocused their policy in favour of millets and protecting the interest of millets growers. He also emphasized that Government policy should make provision of millet food in mid-day meal and Anganawadi centre and the MSP of millets should be enhanced.