Dear all This is an old story on mandia published in the Pioneer three years ago about Mandia.I enclose it for your perusal Yours SudhirMishra ====================================================================================== news of mandia published in the pioneer Date: Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:23:21 IST `Mandia falls pray to modern food habits ================================================================================= Sudhir Mishra | Balangir Nutrient-rich food ragi, locally called as mandia, is fast missing from the common men's diet these days. Unfortunately, this crop, rich in protein, minerals and natural vitamins, is vanishing fast from the daily food habit of the people of drought prone areas of Balangir, thanks to the change of food habits, impact of television, modernisation and other social factors associated with it, pushing mandia consumption into oblivion. This 100-day crop, which grows well in moisture stress condition, is largely harvested by poor people of Titilagarh, Muribahal, Tureikel, Bongomunda and Belapda in June and July. Yet its production is not going up. Agricultural office sources reveal that a hectare of land yields only 5.5 to 6 quintals of mandia. This low production of mandia from one hectare of land is because of the traditional method of cultivation and use of traditional seed with less application of appropriate fertilisers in this district, explains an agricultural official. According to official sources, mandia has been cultivated in 3,525 hectare in 2006 which came down to 3,310 hectares in 2007 and again it has gloomily upped to 3,510 hectare in 2008. The consumption of mandia not only keeps the stomach cool in summer but it acts as an ideal natural medicine for diabetes patients. Notwithstanding its rich medical value, one of the major reasons for this crop not receiving much attention is the thrust of producing more paddy and change of food habits among the people. Large scale cultivation of this crop is gradually dwindling owing to its low market price. Some traders are purchasing the item from the village point at prices less than it deserves. Steps should be taken to increase mandia cultivation by enhancing its market value, says Siddheshwar Majhi, a tribal youth of Titiligarh To revive the consumption of mandia along with its medicinal values, it requires a wide scale media hype, views an official. The perception of poor man's food attached with this crop should be removed to encourage the rate of consumption and ultimately the rate of mandia production, he said. ====================================================================================