Sushant Gaurav, a 2014-batch IAS officer, transformed Gumla district in Jharkhand into a thriving hub for ragi (finger millet) cultivation and production, boosting the local economy, improving agricultural practices, and enhancing community health.
Gumla, a poverty-stricken district, faced challenges such as poor soil quality, limited irrigation, and overdependence on paddy farming. Predominantly inhabited by indigenous Adivasi communities, the district relied on agriculture as the primary source of livelihood.
He empowered farmers, especially women, by providing training, resources, and guaranteed markets. This enabled them to grow ragi and develop value-added products for local and regional markets.
By 2023, over 30,000 farmers were cultivating ragi across 30,000 acres, reflecting a remarkable tenfold increase. Ragi production surged by 270% from 2022 to 2023, thanks to the district administration’s efforts to increase farmers' incomes and reduce reliance on paddy farming.
A key contributor to this success was the ‘Baghima-Palkot Farmer Producer Company Ltd’, a women-driven Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) comprising 500 women farmers.
These women gained financial independence by growing, processing, and marketing ragi-based products. Their efforts not only created economic opportunities but also improved food security in the region.
Recognising its health benefits, IAS Sushant also employed ragi to address severe anaemia and malnutrition in Gumla. Ragi-based snacks, such as laddoos, were distributed to children, pregnant women, and tuberculosis patients, helping boost immunity and nutrition.
A defunct godown was transformed into a 10,000-square-foot solar-powered ragi processing unit. The FPO processed and packaged a variety of ragi products, including flour and snacks, which were sold locally and at events like the Millet Conclave in Raipur.
The growing demand for ragi products led to the establishment of a Millet Café in Gumla. “Here you can find cookies, samosa and peetha made of ragi, besides a live kitchen where you can get baked items made of ragi,” notes Sujit, former district programme officer.
The district administration created a sustainable model for ragi farming. By 2023, farmers were independently managing cultivation, processing, and marketing. The FPO became financially self-reliant, reducing dependency on government funding and ensuring long-term success.
Going further, IAS Sushant claims that over 400 model Anganwadi centres were set up equipped with digital haemoglobin metres, innovative blue MTC (Malnutrition Treatment Card), height growth charts, and follow-up cards.
“At the Anganwadi centres, we also distributed items like ragi ka halwa. We are also the only district in India where 70% of the total tuberculosis patients were screened, identified and given Poshan (food) Kits to improve their immunity. We added ragi elements to these Poshan Kits,” he says.
IAS Sushant’s exemplary efforts earned him the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2023. His work was showcased at Harvard Business School, with plans to use the ‘Gumla model’ for training bureaucrats and business leaders.