Located approximately 323 kilometres from the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, in the Idukki district, Kanthalloor Gram Panchayat has become a catalyst for change in the lives of tribal farmers through the cultivation of millets. This transformation is made possible by Lenovo India’s Work for Humankind project.

For the tribal farmers of Kanthalloor Gram Panchayat in Kerala, the “International Millet Year” (2023) has culminated in the creation of the “Kanthallur Millet” brand, supported by Lenovo India.

The tech giant has set up a processing unit in Kovilakathu village. Millets grown by the farmers under the project are processed there and then brought to the market under the ‘Kanthallur Millet’ brand. The Agriculture Department of Kerala government, I.H.R.D. College Kanthallur, the President of Kanthalloor Gram Panchayat, local homestay organisations, and the people of the village have contributed significantly by becoming stakeholders in this project.

“Initially, twenty-five farmers were part of this project. Not only have they saved various types of millets from extinction but also succeeded in improving their yields and earnings. We are proud that today, we are modifying Kanthallur Millet through data at the IHRD College’s Digital Center. Starting from 14 acres of millet cultivation, we are now expanding towards 50 acres,” says a proud Pratima Harite, Lenovo India’s Head of Philanthropy in the Asia Pacific region.

Equally proud are the beneficiaries. Anju Nadoor, a farmer from the Kanthalloor village, and Panchayat member Radhakrishnan share that being part of this project is a great opportunity for themselves and the local farmers. Usha, an Anganwadi worker from Kevalkade village, is delighted that millets—prevalent in the tribal areas for centuries as a staple food—are getting a makeover. She shares “Young children should be fed meals made from finger millet, which helps in good digestion and contains all the nutrients required for children at this age.” Nineteen-year-old Vinita, a farmer from Kanthallur Panchayat, who is also a part of this project, says, “As our brand progresses, our means of livelihood will improve. I am encouraging my friends to join this work”.

The sale of Kanthallur Millet is being done through local markets, with the assistance of local support groups like Kudumbashree and homestay owners in the region. Kure Monastery Resort’s Kerala administrator, Nelson Samuel, emphasises the significance of the local homestays in the Kanthallur Millet project. “Visitors get information about various millet varieties through dishes in our special millet menu. People love the millet menu and want to try it at home. We encourage them to buy Kanthallur Millet, our local pride.”

This unique initiative has incorporated the WFH [work-from-home] model for Lenovo volunteers monitoring the project. These volunteers can work from anywhere to support the project. They have developed an app and a database that allows farmers to make better decisions based on data. Importantly, this data helps in making decisions during both rain and sunshine.

Lenovo employees see the project as transformational and personally enriching. “As a WFH [work-from-home] volunteer, I not only helped set up the devices but also delivered hands-on training to the students and faculty of IHRD college on the management, operations and safety of the devices. I participated in brainstorming sessions along with SMEs, homestay owners and student volunteers to discuss how our technology can enable different facets of millet production. All in all, the experience was extremely enriching,” said Prashanth R P, Technical Account Manager, Premier Support, Lenovo India.

A Bengaluru-based non-profit, Dream India Network (DIN), working extensively in the area of sustainable livelihoods, has also joined hands with Lenovo to empower the farmers in this region. Dr Saju Parackal, CEO of Dream India Network shares how a local farmer, Radhakrishnan, works as a paid volunteer and a coordinator for the project.

Student volunteers from the college — M Anirudh, Imran Khan, Kunjumol S, Anjana Sree, Princy Rose, and SherinPappachan — have been trained by Lenovo volunteers on device operation and management.

The people of Kanthalloor, therefore, are taking their destiny into their hands, one successful millet harvest at a time. Pratima Harite shares the future of the project. “We are considering handing over this program to the local government body, which will further promote it with local farmers. Additionally, efforts are being made to empower women by having them work in the processing unit.”