Impact assessment of Indira-1 Kodo millet cultivation on farmers’ income and nutritional security: Evidence from production analysis, benefit-cost ratio, and dietary outcomes in Narmada Puram district

This study evaluates the introduction of Indira-1 Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) as an option to improve farm incomes and food security for smallholder and tribal households in Madhya Pradesh Narmada Puram district. For four years (2020-2023), on-farm trials and demonstrations were conducted with a total of 30 poor farming households (5 households in 2020 and 2021 each were expanded to 10 families in 2022 and 2023). Baseline testing revealed is characterized by undernutrition (underweight women) from inadequate diet diversity. The intervention supplied seeds and instructions for the high-yielding crop Indira-1 Kodo, to diversify crops and diets. Yield of grains, production cost, gross and net return, and benefit are the key performance indicators cost (B:C) ratio—were tracked, as well as qualitative data on food consumption. Results indicated that Indira-1 Kodo millet yielded on average ~5 quintals per hectare, gross yielding returns of ₹28-32 thousand/ha and net returns of approximately ₹19-22 thousand/ha annually. The B:C ratio remained at about 3.0, demonstrating high profitability with best practices. Farmers' feedback noted that inclusion of Kodo millet in the daily diet improved food security and satiety at home. Although certain anthropometric dimensions (e.g. Body Mass Index) weren't systematically assessed recorded in this trial, intervention families had improved well-being consistent with millet-based diet benefit observed in similar studies. Overall, Indira-1 Kodo millet consumption was found to be a twin-benefit intervention-raising income from a climate-resilient crop and enhancing food consumption-thus offering a sustainable pathway to improve rural livelihoods. The study confirms the feasibility of mass production and application of Kodo millet in same agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions.