Kodo millet

Current Context : Recently, Elephant deaths in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve are suspected to be linked to “mycotoxins associated with Kodo millet.”

About Kodo millet: 

• Scientific Name : Paspalum scrobiculatum.
• Known as : Kodra, Varagu in India.
• Properties : Hardy, drought-tolerant, high-yield crop with good storage qualities, rich in essential vitamins and minerals.

Significance:

• Staple food for many tribal and economically weaker communities in India.
• Madhya Pradesh is a major producer, along with states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.

Geographic Spread : Primarily cultivated in India but also found in Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa.

Mycotoxins and Risks:

• Mycotoxins: Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is a major toxin found in Kodo millet seeds.
• Kodo Poisoning: Occurs when grains affected by fungal infection (from rain exposure during maturing/harvesting) are consumed, causing “poisoned kodo,” also called “Matawna Kodoo” or “Matona Kodo” in northern India.
• Symptoms: Affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems, causing vomiting, dizziness, tremors, cold limbs, and rapid pulse.