Finger Millet Farming That Used to be Done in Maldives
Author(s)
Title
Finger Millet Farming That Used to be Done in Maldives
Alternative Title
Raajjeygai Koh Ulhunu Binbeege Dhan'duverikan ( ރާއްޖޭގައި ކޮށްއުޅުނު ބިންބީގެ ދަނޑުވެރިކަން)
Publication Type
Language
div
Number of Pages
6
Location
Maldives
Keywords
Finger millets
Agriculture
Maldives
Farming
Traditions
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
Description
The Maldivians always had been quite methodological in their lifestyle. This was often linked to the strong connection with their spirituality. As such, they had their own set of auspicious timings. The farming also used to be done methodologically with each step of the technique following particular timings. Binbeege Dhanduverikan or finger millet farming was done in this manner.
Finger millet was an important staple crop for Maldivians, prized for its nutritional value and resilience. As a hardy plant, it could thrive in the Maldives’ often poor soils and withstand the islands' climate. Its persistence as a crop made it a reliable food source for island communities, especially given the limited agricultural resources available. Finger millet’s ability to endure the harsh environmental conditions of the islands made it a crucial part of Maldivian agriculture and daily life.
Technique for Finger Millet farming was as follows:
1. Clearing the fertile land when the weather conditions are optimal after determining the auspicious timing and carrying out a ritual.
2. Identifying the good seeds from the last harvest and sowing them.
3. Nurturing the plants after closing off the land from public access. This was done more to prevent plant diseases than to prevent visitors from damaging the crops.
4. When the grains ripen, the farmers hold another ritual that lasts 3 to 7 days. The finger millet will only be harvested after this ritual is completed.
The harvest will then be prepared in diverse ways. These include grinding the grains into diverse types of finger millet flour (Binbi Fuh in Dhivehi) and then preparing various savory dishes and desserts. There were specific rituals even when eating the new harvest.
Until the end of the twentieth century, Maldivians incorporated these ritualistic practices into their farming methods, and similar practices were observed in other aspects of their lifestyle, such as in fishing. The rituals surrounding finger millet farming were a hybrid of shamanistic beliefs and religious customs, reflecting the deep interweaving of spirituality with daily life.
However, as the Maldives underwent social, economic, and spiritual development, many of these traditional practices began to fade. Modernization, the introduction of modern technologies, and shifts in religious and spiritual beliefs led to the decline of these farming rituals. Today, while finger millet is no longer widely cultivated in the Maldives, the practices surrounding its farming remain a testament to the rich cultural heritage and spiritual connection that once defined Maldivian agricultural life.
Finger millet was an important staple crop for Maldivians, prized for its nutritional value and resilience. As a hardy plant, it could thrive in the Maldives’ often poor soils and withstand the islands' climate. Its persistence as a crop made it a reliable food source for island communities, especially given the limited agricultural resources available. Finger millet’s ability to endure the harsh environmental conditions of the islands made it a crucial part of Maldivian agriculture and daily life.
Technique for Finger Millet farming was as follows:
1. Clearing the fertile land when the weather conditions are optimal after determining the auspicious timing and carrying out a ritual.
2. Identifying the good seeds from the last harvest and sowing them.
3. Nurturing the plants after closing off the land from public access. This was done more to prevent plant diseases than to prevent visitors from damaging the crops.
4. When the grains ripen, the farmers hold another ritual that lasts 3 to 7 days. The finger millet will only be harvested after this ritual is completed.
The harvest will then be prepared in diverse ways. These include grinding the grains into diverse types of finger millet flour (Binbi Fuh in Dhivehi) and then preparing various savory dishes and desserts. There were specific rituals even when eating the new harvest.
Until the end of the twentieth century, Maldivians incorporated these ritualistic practices into their farming methods, and similar practices were observed in other aspects of their lifestyle, such as in fishing. The rituals surrounding finger millet farming were a hybrid of shamanistic beliefs and religious customs, reflecting the deep interweaving of spirituality with daily life.
However, as the Maldives underwent social, economic, and spiritual development, many of these traditional practices began to fade. Modernization, the introduction of modern technologies, and shifts in religious and spiritual beliefs led to the decline of these farming rituals. Today, while finger millet is no longer widely cultivated in the Maldives, the practices surrounding its farming remain a testament to the rich cultural heritage and spiritual connection that once defined Maldivian agricultural life.
Book/Journal Title
Publisher
Dhivehi Bahaai Thareekhah Khidhumaikuraa Qaumee Marukazu
Place of Publication
Male', Maldives
Date of Publication
Nov 2005
Issue
320
Pages
21-26
Academic Field
Agriculture
Cultural studies
Community/Ethnic Group
Maldivian farmers
Contributor
Active Contribution
Maldives, FY 2024