Ten wild elephants from a herd of 13 died over the last three days in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
- According to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), the deaths could have been caused by “mycotoxins associated with kodo millet”.
- Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) is also known as Kodra and Varagu in India. The crop is grown in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa.
- The millet is believed to have originated in India and Madhya Pradesh is one of the largest producers of the crop.
- The tropical and subtropical regions are best suited for Kodo millet cultivation and it is grown on poor soils, and widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions.
- Apart from MP, the millet is cultivated in Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
- Kodo millet is a staple food for many tribal and economically weaker sections in India.
- It is one of the “hardiest crops, drought tolerant with high yield potential and excellent storage properties.
- The reasons for kodo poisoning first came to light after researchers established the association of the mycotoxin, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), with kodo millet seeds causing kodua poisoning.
- Kodo poisoning occurs mainly due to the consumption of kodo grains, when maturing and harvesting if the grains had encountered with rainfall, resulting in a fungal infection leading to ‘poisoned kodo’.
- Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Millets) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM). The Nutri-Cereals (millets) such as Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua), Minor Millets i.e., Foxtail Millet (Kangani/Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo), Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/ Jhangora), Little Millet (Kutki) and two Pseudo Millets Buck-wheat (Kuttu) and Amaranthus (Chaulai) are covered under NFSM programme.
- The millets such as Ragi, Jowar and Bajra are covered under Minimum Support Price (MSP). There is no MSP for Kodo millet.
