Quinoa: A climate resilient crop for sustainable livelihood security of small and marginal farmers of Odisha

Abstract

Government of India has included quinoa under Millet Mission as a pseudo millet crop for its wide adoption. The speciality of this crop lies with the nutritional and medicinal value, and its ability to grow in marginal lands under moderate moisture deficit and salinity stress. The crop can be fitted to rice fallows of eastern India with minimum water and pest management practices. An average yield of 1.0–1.5 t/ha is generally reported under field conditions, though its potential yield is up to 4 t/ha. High market value of quinoa seeds (`150/kg), low cost of cultivation and stress tolerance of the crop has scope for crop diversification in eastern India. In addition to the local market, the international market should be explored for export of high-quality quinoa grains. This may help in enhancing the profit margin further.