Context: Recently, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) said that the deaths of elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve could have been caused by “mycotoxins associated with kodo millet”.

• The report advised a survey and destruction of the fungal infected kodo crop residue. It also emphasised on raising awareness among farmers and livestock owners in and around Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve regarding the fungal infection of the crop.

What is Kodo Millet?

• Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) is also known as ‘Kodra’ and ‘Varagu’ in India. It is a staple food for many tribal and economically weaker sections.

• It grows well in tropical and subtropical regions. It is a drought resistant crop with high yield potential and excellent storage properties.

• It is mainly cultivated in arid and semiarid regions in India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and parts of West Africa. 

• According to a 2020 research paper, ‘Nutritional, Functional Role of Kodo Millet and its Processing: A review’, Kodo millet is believed to have originated in India and Madhya Pradesh is one of the largest producers of the crop, also cultivated in Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and parts of Tamil Nadu. 

• It is well known for its health benefits due to the presence of minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber.  Researchers also claim that it is gluten-free, easy to digest, and “might have anti-carcinogenic properties.”

About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

• It  is situated between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.

• It was designated a national park in 1968 and later became a tiger reserve in 1993 under Project Tiger.

• It features the historic Bandhavgarh Fort. According to the folklore, the fort was given by Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana in Ramayana.

• Important flora species found here are Tendu, Saj, Dhaora etc. While faunal species include Royal Bengal Tigers, leopard, wolf, jackal, Nilgai etc.

Road Ahead

• To prevent the poisoning of Kodo millets a combination of proactive measures in cultivation, storage and processing need to be adopted.

• Use of biocontrol agents by introducing organisms that control fungal growth can help to mitigate the development of mycotoxins. 

• Post harvest handling of grains is important.  Sorting and storing grains in airtight containers can minimize fungal growth. Ensuring that the harvested Millet is kept dry and avoiding traditional practices that involve moisturizing can reduce mycotoxin levels. 

• Traditional fungal detection methods like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography are accurate but time consuming. Many new faster and cost-effective methods are available for on-site testing of mycotoxin contamination, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), lateral flow assays (LFAs) and biosensors.