Dr. Banarsi Lal
The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets with the support from more than 70 countries across the world. The celebration of International Year of Millets is a matter of pride for India and in particular for the farming community. It will help in creating awareness across the globe about the important role of millets and their benefits as the smart super food. India is the largest producer of millets in the world and can be considered as the hub of millets with the production of more than 170 lakh tonnes which is about 20 per cent of global production and 80 per cent Asia’s production. India’s average yield of millets (1239 kg/ha) is also higher than global yield of 1229 kg/ha. Millets are grown in about 131 countries across the globe. Millets are the traditional food for about 60 Crore people in Asia and Africa. The International Year of Millets stands to provide a unique opportunity to increase global production, consumption, efficient processing etc. There is need to highlight the benefits of promoting the sustainable cultivation and consumption of millets. Food is still a concern for the planet. Climate change can also impact food availability. At such a time, global movement related to millets is an important step as they are very easy to grow, drought and climate resistant. They are good for the producers, consumers and environment. They are good source of balanced nutrition. They need less water and compatible with the natural ways of farming. They can be grown in arid conditions with the minimal inputs and maintenance. They are disease and insect-pest resistant. They are resistant to climate shocks than other cereals. Major millets grown in India are-Pearl millet(Bajra)-61 %,Sorghum(Jowar)-27 % and Finger Millet(Mandua/Ragi)-10 %. Millets are the part of our traditions and cultures and their relevance are cited in the Vedas and Puranas. There is need of new innovations, research and start-ups in millets.
Millets are the group of small-seeded annual grasses that are grown as grain crops primarily on marginal land in temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions. They are one of the ancient foods dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization around 3000BC.Millets are categorised in three categories 1.Major millets: Sorghum(Jowar),Pearl Millet(Bajra),Finger Millet(Ragi/Mandua),2.Minor Millets: Foxtail Millet(Kangani/Kakun),Kodo Millet, Proso Millet(Cheena),Barnyard Millet(Sawa/Sanwa/Jhangora) and Little Millet(Kutki),3.Pseaudo Millets: Buckwheat(Kuttu) and Amarnthus(Chaulai).Top millets producing states in India are Rajasthan, Karnatka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Millets have been the part of the Indian diet for many years. Prior to Green Revolution they have been used as the staple diet in most of the households. They have been ingrained in our food system, culture and traditions. They are also observed in the various Indian texts and in various Indian practices. Our elders always highlight the millets in the older times. Millets are also used during the fasting days. Millets possess several morphological, physiological & biological characters and thus can be grown even in dry areas. They can be grown even in the worst lands. Millets are considered as the superfood and there is need to popularize ‘Shree Anna’, the mother of all grains to mitigate the malnutrition. Millets are high in protein, dietary fibre and antioxidants. They are gluten free and contain low glycemic index (GI) which is good to manage diabetes. Millets are capable of mitigating both the climatic disorders and ailments associated with the sedentary life. They are known as the storehouse of nutrition as they are good sources of calcium, zinc, copper, vitamin, iron, antioxidants, phytochemicals etc. The income of small and marginal farmers can be augmented through the millets as millets are climate friendly and can be grown with less water and other resources. Farmers should grow millets to mitigate the challenges of nutritional security and they can generate more farm returns by growing them. There is need to work towards increasing the share of nutri-cereals in the national food baskets. Emphasis should be given on the value addition in millets for more farm returns and farmers need to be guided on the marketing potential and branding of millets. There is need on the area expansion in millets. There is a significant need to work on awareness and consumption of millets across the globe. Mission mode campaigns on millets are required to encourage the people. Startups, hotels, chefs etc. can also play the role to promote the millets. After the announcement of International Year of Millets 2023 many people are coming forward to join the millets movement. To strengthen this movement production of millets also needs to be increased. Presently we have limited production of millets because they are grown in certain pockets of the country. Value addition in millets is also very limited which also needs to be increased. The supply of minor millets is erratic thereby discouraging in value addition and consumption. Production and processing of millets need to be encouraged in different states and Union Territories of the country. This will help to keep balance between production and consumption of millets. This will also help to check the prices of millets. The health-packed millets hold special significance in today’s times when people are gravitating to healthier options. Millets growers should be encouraged by linking them to the markets. It has observed through studies that consumption of millets reduces hyperlipidemia and hence hypertension and raises the level of HDL-C(good cholesterol) which is helpful to manage the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Millets are also helpful to reduce anaemia caused due to iron deficiency. Millets will now re-enter the food platters both nationally and internationally. But behavioural change requires time. It has taken many years to forget eating millets so it will take some time to bring back the habit of eating the millets. For that purpose concerted and sincere efforts are needed by all the concerned actors in the system. Creating awareness among the producers and consumers and enabling environment for the millets industry and start-ups are the key to the future of millets. Already number of steps are taken by the government in this direction. There is need to establish Centres of Excellence on millets across the nation and link industries with these centres. In Angadwadi Centres also millets need to be incorporated to increase the nutritional value of food for the children. We need to grab the opportunity to increase the production, processing and promote the consumption of millets. Consistent research and development programmes for enhancing the production and processing of millets are needed.
(The writer is Sr. Scientist & Head, KVK, Reasi, SKUAST-J).
