The Rise of Millets in Urban Farming: Enhanced Food Security and Nutrition

With the growing population, there is a surging demand for whole-nutrition foods and sustainable farming systems. Millets-based agriculture in urban areas can solve the increasing climate change and malnutrition challenges.

India is home to a wide variety of millets. For centuries, they have served as a staple diet, primary income source, and dietary needs for people in arid and semi-arid regions. As they are alkaline and have high nutritional value, you can understand why these grain-based foods in India are gaining popularity again. 

Therefore, the growing consumer demand for gluten-free, nutrient-packed cereals has fueled the adoption of millet-based health foods by health and wellness brands and food manufacturers. All such factors have expanded the scope for millets in urban farming and rooftop gardening techniques.

In this blog, you will discover how we can strengthen food security and local economies with sustainable millet-based vertical farming systems.

Integrate Millets into Urban Agriculture and Rooftop Gardens

Before we discuss urban agriculture, let’s first understand rooftop farming. Rooftop farming, or urban rooftop farming (URF), is carried out on 20 and 50 square meters of land.

Supporting the millet harvest through rooftop agriculture will reduce dependence on outside sources and encourage more local economic development.

The other main points of how can we effectively go through this are as follows:

1. Adaptation to urban environments

Since millets are low-demand crops, they suit farming models where space and resources are constrained. For example, one may carry out urban or rooftop farming in a container, which is common for hydroponic systems.

This can be particularly helpful in areas where water is scarce because millet does better than the other cereal crops under drought conditions.

Additionally, millets are pest-free crops. They also remain unaffected by storage pests, allowing the harvested grains to stay safe and uncontaminated for longer periods.

2. Soil Organic Matter Grows

Millet production is not dependent on synthetic fertilisers. Most millet farmers use organic materials such as vermicompost, household produce, and biofertilisers. It reduces the burden on the environment and the production cost. ^[1]

Millets can be cultivated in soils as shallow as 15 cm. Due to sustainable farming practices, millet farming improves soil fertility through organic matter and helps grow beneficial soil microorganisms. They also improve soil fertility through organic matter and help grow soil biodiversity.

This is the most essential requirement for practising crop rotation and intercropping with millets.

3. Environmental and Cultural Benefits

Biodiversity is necessary to sustain a healthy crop system. A variety of millet types adds to the overall diversity in farming. As they can be grown alongside others, they create a beneficial relationship that improves productivity and resilience. 

Moreover, millets help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, which can combat climate change.  [2]

Additionally, millet has strong cultural significance due to its long history and traditional uses in many Indian communities. For example, in Gujarat, during Makar Sankranti, people prepare “ghoogri” by mixing soaked pearl millet (bajra) seeds with jaggery. It is then offered to cattle as a gesture of gratitude. 

Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, finger millet (ragi) flour is mixed with turmeric and applied to the bride and groom during wedding ceremonies. [3]

This is how millet contributes to greater crop diversity, supports beneficial intercropping, and supports cultural value. 

4. Indian Government Policies

Recognising the growing demand for whole nutrition, the Indian government and its agencies run programs to support millet cultivation and consumption. Some of them are:

• Odisha Millet Mission (OMM)
• National Mission on Nutri-Cereals
• Millets Magic-Recipes Contest
• Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) ^[4]

They have transformed into a large-scale food and nutrition program with the following benefits:

• This initiative has empowered local production, storage, and distribution among localities.
• Access to improved quality grains.
• Reduced malnutrition.
• Fostered local livestock breeds to create a symbiotic relationship between farming and pastoralism.
• Increased availability of organic manure.
• Better farmer incomes due to the opening of new market

Even if those resources are there, sometimes it takes time to understand how they fit into the diet. We believe you are all unique, and so is how your diet influences your health and what you eat.

For this reason, our certified nutritionists at ITC Aashirvaad provide an insightful 45-minute consultation session to help you get in sync with your health.

The session will provide you with expert advice and make sure that you get the right consultation.

Consult ITC Aashirvaad’s certified nutritionists and get a personalised diet plan added to your meal list.

Health Benefits of Millets

Millets offer food security and significant nutritional advantages over staples like rice. It contains 30% to 300% more essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, dietary fibre, beta carotene, and many other micronutrients. ^[5] 

Millets are nutritionally similar to major cereal groups in terms of carbohydrates and energy. They contain 7-12% protein, 2-5% fat, 65-75% carbohydrates, and 15-20% dietary fibre. [6]

This makes them a good choice for health-conscious people. For instance, incorporating millet into your diet can:

• Improve your overall nutrition, especially for children and young adults.
• Help in managing diabetes and weight because they have a lower glycemic index.
• A healthy alternative to wheat-based products for gluten-intolerant individuals.
• Aid in digestion and sugar control due to high fibre content.
•  Assists in reducing the effects of ageing and managing diseases like cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Relieve constipation because millets have water-absorbing properties that add bulk to the stool.

Millets have high digestive properties. It makes them best for individuals with sensitive digestive systems.

Aashirvaad Atta recognizes this critical concern and has developed an easy 2-minute Digestive Quotient test to determine your digestive score out of 100.

This is a fast approach to understanding how your gastrointestinal tract works.

How well is your gut health?

Your digestive fitness determines your wellness. Take the Aashirvaad Atta Digestive Quotient test and work towards better digestive fitness.

Types of Millets Most Suitable for Urban and Rooftop Farming

Millets are classified as major and minor depending upon their spatial distribution for cultivation. It is again differentiated on a grain size basis. Sorghum and Pearl millet belong to the major category, and the remaining are considered minor millet. ^[7]

The minor millets are especially suitable for urban or rooftop farming-based cultivation, as they thrive well in limited spaces. Some of the best minor millets suitable for urban and rooftop farming include:

Little Millet (Kutki) and Barnyard Millet (Jhangora)

• Little millet has small, round grains and is well-suited for hilly areas, whereas barnyard millet has tiny, white-coloured, rounded grains.
• Both are rich in protein, dietary fibre, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium and provide satiety and nourishment.
• Little millet is frequently used to prepare khichdi, pulao, and upma, especially in hilly areas, and Barnyard millets are famous for dishes like khichdi, dosa, and idli.

Even though millets such as Little and Barnyard millet are loaded with fibre, not everyone can guarantee that they get enough of it in their daily meals.

This is where Aashirvaad Atta’s ‘My Meal Plan‘ comes to your rescue. Simply input your daily meal and check your analysis in seconds.

If your fibre intake is lower than suggested, our nutritionists will help you with a complete meal plan.

Your fibre intake is more important than you think. Visit My Meal Plan to know if you meet your daily fibre targets.

Foxtail Millet (Kangni)

• Foxtail millet is a small, yellowish-brown grain packed with protein, dietary fibre, B vitamins, and nutrients like iron and magnesium.
• Foxtail millet is widespread in southern India and used in dishes like upma and kheer.

Finger Millet (Ragi)

• Finger millet is a relatively resilient crop rich in calcium, iron, dietary fibre, and protein. It also contains a low glycemic index and is loaded with various micronutrients.
• Ragi is one of the main staple foods in India. It is used to make dishes like ragi mudde (dumplings), dosa, and idli.

There are two types of millet-based foods: RTE (Ready to Eat) and RTC (Ready to Cook).

Ragi Murukku, Ragi Chakli, Bajra Khakhra, or Millet Puffed Snacks are examples of food in the RTE category. You can prepare and store these snacks for a longer time, allowing you to eat them at your convenience.

Aashirvaad Millets Batter mix comes under RTC food. It offers a convenient option with a balance of taste and health for those looking to incorporate millet into their diet. Its rich fibre and protein content make it an excellent choice for quick meals like dosa without compromising nutrition.

In the middle of this, there are other options that can help you enjoy all the nutritional benefits of millet in your daily diet. Check out more about the Aashirvaad millet collection and enjoy the goodness of healthy millets.

The Potential for Millet-Based Vertical Farming Systems

Industrialization and urbanization have created a high demand for retail food supply chains.

Vertical farming (or indoor agriculture) is a promising alternative. It allows for growing crops in a controlled atmosphere with the least dependence on natural conditions.

The Need for Millet-based Vertical Farming

Vertical farms can adjust to optimum growth conditions using smart sensors and semi-automatic micro-irrigation technology.

The possibilities run wide, but some key innovations include imaging technology for tracking plant health. Similarly, LED provides light and temperature regulation to give plants an ideal amount of light and warmth from above.

Furthermore, vertical farms shield crops from pests and weather and reduce the need for chemical pesticides. This ensures layered millet cultivation, which helps ensure that limited and costly land can be used effectively. ^[8]

The Approach to Grow Urban Vertical Farming

Although an old concept, vertical farming is still a developing system in terms of economy and climatology.

Below are the key reasons for switching to vertical farming. They effectively illustrate how it can be advantageous for the climate, excellent economic policy, and the health of future generations:

• Using urban spaces for farming with renewable energy promotes sustainable living.
• Vertical farming enables all-weather, all-purpose agriculture by reducing the complete dependence on nature.
• This approach can help forecast food production and eliminate hunger issues in the long term.
• Urban vertical farming can create job opportunities in cities with limited agricultural options.
• It decreases the need for food imports and lowers carbon footprints from transportation.
• Government subsidies can reduce capital costs.
• Furthermore, essential training programs for adopting developed vertical farming techniques will help reach more people.
• Automation in vertical farming also includes built-in processes for delivering essential nutrients directly to the roots of vegetables. Additionally, one can integrate sensors to monitor growth, health, readiness for harvest, and other necessary parameters. ^[9]

 The Final Word

A country like India can add millet to its central crop solution. Millet is ideal for urban farming as it can grow in poor soils, reducing the need for costly inputs and maintenance. Though rice and wheat are on the pedestal of food security, millet farming gives life to a variety. It covers food, nutrition, fodder, fibre, and health, with implications for livelihoods and ecology.

Millets would be an appropriate response against cash crops in times of climate change because they reduce carbon footprint. Its resilience against pests and adaptability to harsh climates make it a sustainable choice for rooftop cultivation. 

Undeniably, millet is easy to digest and devoid of gluten.  Thus, they reduce the possibility of food intolerances, stomach ulcers, and high cholesterol levels. Millets are also alkaline-forming foods that help keep the acid-base balance at a constant value range. Therefore, you may include them as one of the important food items for supplying energy during any stage of the day. ^[10]

We can create resilient food systems for future generations by incorporating millet-based vertical farming and rooftop gardens.