India, Nov. 24 -- When 41-year-old Rinchin Jomba's recipe for momo, a type of steamed dumpling, won the Millet Recipe Contest organised by the agriculture centre Krishi Vigyan Kendra in 2023, her joy transcended the mere thrill of winning an award. She had spotlighted the culinary heritage of her community, the Monpa. The contest was part of the International Year of Millets 2023 celebrations, in Arunachal Pradesh's Chug Valley, nestled in the West Kameng district.

Jomba created her momo recipe using kongpu (finger millet) for the wrap and stuffing it with boiled locally-sourced potatoes and onion greens. Her primary goal was to reintroduce the indigenous kongpu in a contemporary form that would appeal to the changed palate of the younge...