Heritage Crop Diversity in Transition: Ragi’s Role in Mitigating Food Security Challenges in India

Abstract

The Green Revolution’s achievement and subsequent effects on agricultural output and economic benefits continue to resonate in certain parts of Asia, where the introduction of novel agricultural technologies coincided with infrastructural and commercial advancements. Despite these accomplishments, the task of eliminating global hunger has demonstrated itself to be a multi-faceted and demanding undertaking, entangled with challenges like poverty and climate change. Genetic variety is a crucial factor that influences both the availability and security of food. It is strongly linked to the cultural heritage associated with the historical domestication of crops. Agriculture and food encompass both tangible and intangible elements of cultural heritage; however, the connection between food and cultural heritage has only recently begun to be explored. Furthermore, there has been a widespread failure to properly acknowledge both the tangible and intangible elements of the cultural context around regional foods. Additionally, there has been a notable absence of involvement from key stakeholders in the processes of preserving culinary heritage. Food was officially acknowledged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as an intangible cultural asset in 2010. Furthermore, it is important to highlight that placing food within the context of cultural heritage has broader consequences that extend beyond its role as a cultural marker. There has been a paradigm change in thinking about intangible and tangible forms of cultural legacy, and this change is especially noticeable in food systems, which are highly dependent on commercial entities. Numerous studies have demonstrated how cultural heritage has impacted and continues to shape various facets of identities related to food production and consumption. The relationship between cultural heritage and the ‘farm to fork’ production, supply and demand cycles is not widely acknowledged. However, recognizing this connection can be utilized to improve food security. The literature, meanwhile, has been rather silent regarding the ways in which India might strengthen and improve food security through the use of cultural legacy. This study aims to investigate the relationship between cultural legacy and food systems and how this relationship might be utilized to tackle food insecurity in India.