Ragi, also known as millet, nachni, sollu, or sattemavu:

- grows well without irrigation, pesticides or fertilizers.
- is rich in calcium, iron, protein and some nutrients rarely found in plants such as methionine.
- digests easily from infancy through old age, and its nutrients are easily absorbed.
- costs much less than other grains and dairy milk, while delivering superior nutrition.

Today, a growing urban market seeks organic, sprouted ragi flour, ragi biscuits, etc. People in Srikakulam were shocked when I told them the price of organic sprouted ragi flour in Mumbai: Rs. 100/kg. In contrast, they bought local organic ragi for only Rs. 5/kg, sprouted it (increasing bio-availability of iron from 8% to 88%) and ground it freshly at home. Commercial baby foods not only cost more, but deliver inferior nutrition. They may contain added sugar, preservatives and chemical residues. Moreover, poorer families use these expensive substitutes sparingly. With ragi, the whole family, including the women, especially lactating mothers, may have their fill.

No wonder AID India and many groups make ragi a cornerstone of health counseling programs that address malnutrition among young children and nursing mothers!

---
Aravinda Pillalamarri, AID Jeevansaathi

Farmer working in ragi field, Santakavita Mandal, District Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.