In a bid to revive indigenous millet varieties in Kerala, technology giant Lenovo is offering digital and technical support in Kanthalloor. As part of its Work for Humankind Initiative, Lenovo established a digital center at the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) College for Applied Sciences in Kanthalloor. The initiative aims to facilitate the cultivation of six millet varieties, streamlining production processes, and establishing market connections.
In the project’s inaugural year, 25 farmers participated, cultivating six millet varieties across 25 acres of land. The selected millet varieties include finger millet, barnyard millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, and kodo millet, some of which were traditionally grown for personal consumption.
Farmers, chosen by the village panchayat, began cultivating millets in half-acre plots that were either vacant or previously used for growing vegetables. Equipped with smartphones, farmers accessed information and stayed connected with the digital center, volunteers, and the community, fostering a tech-enabled agricultural ecosystem.
Lenovo collaborated with Samudra Network and Agri App to digitize the agricultural value chain specific to millet farming in Kanthalloor. This involved tracking crop details, digitizing processing operations for quality control, and creating a market catalog.
In the initial phase, 1,750 kg of millets have already been harvested, with expectations to surpass 2,000 kg by March. Future plans include expanding millet cultivation to 50 acres in collaboration with 50 farmers next year, focusing on increasing yield.
Dr. Saju, CEO of the non-profit organization Dream India Network, expressed optimism about the project’s impact, emphasizing the goal to not only expand cultivation but also enhance overall yield.
Kanthalloor Gram Panchayat President Kanth Mohandas highlighted the cultural significance of millets in Kanthalloor’s history. Residents are pleased to witness the revival of traditional farming practices with the aid of modern technology, bridging the gap between heritage and innovation.
