KURNOOL: The subsidised rice scheme might have brought calorie-rich food within the reach of the rural poor but it has also definitely sounded the death knell for minor millets in Kurnool district.

Minor millet, which is also known as foxtail millet (korra) was a popular staple crop in Kurnool district cultivated in an area of 1.5 lakh hectares till 1980. The crop size has shrunk to 15,000 hectares. After the Rs. 2 a kg rice scheme was introduced, people shifted to eating cheaply available rice. At that time, foxtail millet grain was priced around 5 a kg.

Matter of convenience

Families found the ready-to-cook rice more convenient than the foxtail millet, which required cumbersome pounding or milling in small quantities. De-husked grain of foxtail millet could not be stored for long, which amounts to extra work for the women. But the gold coloured grain with husk could be stocked for several years.

Korra, which is rich in fibre and protein content, is considered more nutritious than rice. Korra consumption is recommended for diabetics, which is low in calorie and high in fibre. Also, people employed in hard labour jobs prefer korra meal as it sustains them for longer hours.

More diabetics

It is found that one of the reasons for the growing number of diabetics in rural areas was giving up consumption of minor millets. Though the area under cultivation declined to 15,000 hectares, Kurnool district is still the leading producer of korra in the State. Consumption of minor millets such as ragi, jowar and bajra, which were popular in other districts also declined because of the rice promotion schemes. Growers of minor millets lost the market because of the food policy of the Government.

De-husked korra grain is sold only in some specialised shops now. Cooked korra rice with `gongura' is a delicacy.

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