Gumla's Silent Revolution: Ragi Cultivation Transforms Lives of Farmers
Gumla, a former Maoist hotbed in Jharkhand, is experiencing a remarkable transformation as thousands of farmers embrace the cultivation of Ragi, a crop once considered worthless. This silent revolution has been made possible by the district administration's initiative, led by former deputy commissioner Sushant Gaurav, which distributed free high-quality Ragi seeds to over 25,000 farmers, covering 30,000 acres of land. The outstanding success of this endeavor earned Gumla the prestigious 'Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.' Previously reliant on rain-fed one-crop agriculture focused on paddy, Gumla's economy has now shifted to cultivating high-quality Ragi on a vast scale. Ragi-based products such as laddoos, bhujia, mixture, and flour have contributed to addressing malnutrition issues as Ragi is rich in protein, calcium, and iron. Remarkably, Ragi processing units are exclusively owned and operated by self-help groups (SHGs) of women, churning out daily productions of one tonne of Ragi flour, 300 packets of laddoos, and 200 packets of snacks under the brand 'Johar.' Guidance and support were provided to the farmers at various stages of cultivation, with the produce collected from 17 centers and transported to Ragi processing centers equipped with machines of varying capacities. The sudden surge in demand for Ragi prompted the procurement of 50 tonnes of high-quality Ragi seeds from Karnataka, which were distributed among the farmers and sown across 3,600 acres of land the following year. This remarkable success in Gumla's Ragi cultivation is seen as a self-sustaining model and has led to the establishment of the first Ragi processing center in Jharkhand. Ragi-based products not only address malnutrition and anemia but also offer a lucrative income source for farmers, with the cultivation area expanding from 1,500 to 3,500 hectares. Gumla's silent revolution in Ragi cultivation is poised to become a thriving business model for the entire country, setting an inspiring example of agricultural transformation and rural empowerment.
