Ever been swept away by a sudden wave of nostalgia — not for a place, but for a taste? Something that instantly brings back childhood memories or reminds you of home? For many in Arunachal Pradesh, that feeling comes with the earthy aroma of Adlay millet simmering on the stove.

It’s more than just food — it’s the memory of meals shared with grandparents on misty mornings, the comfort of traditional flavours passed down through generations, and the quiet pride of a crop deeply rooted in the land and culture. That tug of nostalgia, the longing for a familiar taste, sparked something incredible in the mind of Dimum Pertin, a 32-year-old from the lush hills of the same state. But instead of just reminiscing, she chose to turn those memories into action.

Her mission? To bring back a nearly forgotten millet, Adlay, all because her grandmother missed it dearly. And in doing so, she’s not just reviving a crop – she’s nurturing dreams and opportunities for the women around her.

It started with an innocent longing

Dimum’s story isn’t your typical startup narrative. It didn’t begin with market research or a business plan in 2021. It started with something much more personal. “I resigned my work and came back home, wanting to do something with agriculture,” she says. But the real catalyst was her grandmother’s simple wish.

“As my grandmother approached her octogenarian years, she began craving the food she grew up eating. One day, she particularly longed for a grain called anyat. To satisfy her craving, I began searching for it and learning more about this forgotten grain,” recalls Dimum.

During her research period, she was made aware of the reality. “What struck me the most was how, once a staple food in our region, it had been completely overshadowed and replaced by rice,” she adds.

Dimum lists three reasons that she feels have hindered Adlay from being cultivated on a large scale:

Considering all these difficulties and problems, something clicked for Dimum. “So I decided, why not try reviving the adlay millet?” she shares.

Finding the initial seeds was like

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