Kodo millet : Cause Of Death Of Elephant
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”.
- Kodo millet is also known as Kodra and Varagu in India.
- It is one of the “hardiest crops, drought tolerant with high yield potential and excellent storage properties,” It is rich in vitamins and minerals.
- It is a staple food for many tribal and economically weaker sections in India.
- The tropical and subtropical regions are best suited for Kodo millet cultivation.
- It is grown on poor soils, and widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions.
- The millet is believed to have originated in India and Madhya Pradesh (MP) is one of the largest producers of the crop, according to a 2020 research paper.
- Apart from MP, the millet is cultivated in Gujarat, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
- The crop is grown in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and West Africa.
- According to the research paper, “CPA (Cyclopiazonic acid) is one of the major mycotoxins associated with the kodo millet seeds causing kodo poisoning which was first recognised during the mid-eighties”.
- Kodo poisoning occurs mainly due to the consumption of Kodo grains, when “maturing and harvesting if the grains had encountered with rainfall, resulting in a fungal infection leading to ‘poisoned Kodo’ which is locally known as ‘Matawna Kodoo’ or ‘Matona Kodo’ in northern India.”
- Kodo poisoning mainly affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems and the chief symptoms include “vomiting, giddiness, and unconsciousness, small and rapid pulse, cold extremities, shaking of limbs and tremors.”
