As part of its philanthropic ‘Work for Humankind Initiative,’ technology company Lenovo has taken strides in the revival of indigenous millet varieties in Kanthalloor, Kerala. Lenovo has established a digital center at the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) College for Applied Sciences in Kanthalloor, offering crucial digital and technical support. The primary objective is to empower farmers with technology tools to enhance millet production processes and establish market linkages.
Under this initiative, Lenovo has collaborated with local farmers and set up a digital center to provide access to technology tools. The project, initiated in October, involved 25 farmers cultivating six distinct millet varieties across 25 acres of land. These varieties include finger millet, barnyard millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, and kodo millet. Notably, some of these millets were traditionally grown for self-consumption.
Farmers participating in the project were selected by the village panchayat. Each farmer began cultivating millets in half-acre plots, which were either vacant or previously used for growing vegetables. To facilitate communication and access to information, farmers were equipped with smartphones, enabling connectivity with the digital center, volunteers, and the broader community.
Lenovo has further strengthened its commitment by partnering with Samudra Network and Agri App. Together, they are working to digitize the agricultural value chain specific to millet farming in Kanthalloor. This digital transformation includes tracking crop details, digitizing processing operations for quality control, and creating a comprehensive market catalog.
The initial phase of the project has already seen a harvest of 1,750 kg of millets, and projections suggest this figure could exceed 2,000 kg by March. Looking ahead, the ambitious goal is to expand millet cultivation to 50 acres in collaboration with 50 farmers in the coming year. The focus will not only be on expanding cultivation but also on further increasing the yield.
This initiative has received positive feedback from the community, with Kanthalloor Gram Panchayat President Kanth Mohandas expressing satisfaction that traditional farming practices are being revitalized with the aid of modern technology. Millets hold historical significance in Kanthalloor, and this endeavor aims to preserve and promote these valuable crops through a harmonious blend of tradition and technology.
