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The modern diet has made millet the trendy superfood of the moment. While we have such an enormous variety of pulses, legumes, and cereals available, is there any need for millet?
The answer lies in its exceptional nutritional quotients, which got lost in major cereals due to domestication and intensive selection over time.
In India, a fortunate combination of soil, weather, crop diversity, and agricultural systems gives millet stress tolerance and good adaptability. It is superior to other grains in nutritional qualities and is a better food for many other reasons.
In this blog, you will learn how millet can grow in different agro-climatic conditions and still be considered a nutritious food. It is beneficial for areas where food is usually scarce due to challenging climates and water scarcity.
How Millets Can Contribute to Climate-smart Agriculture?
Millets can survive in both arid and semi-arid regions. Their adaptability to varied ecological circumstances renders them a better choice than other crops.[1] Hence, it got the name “poor man’s food.” Here are the following ways in which the group of small-seeded grasses contribute to Climate-smart Agriculture:
- Millets generally have a growth period ranging from 60 to 130 days, depending on the specific type. For example, finger millet (ragi) typically matures in 90 to 130 days. Other millets, such as foxtail millet (kangni), can mature in 70 to 120 days, while pearl millet (bajra) may take 80 to 95 days. [2]
- One can employ them for crop rotations to increase agricultural biodiversity. It also helps make farmland more resilient to climate variation.
- It takes only a limited amount of land, minimal labour, and fertiliser to produce millet.
- Millets help soil health by enhancing its structure and fertility. Their deep roots lead to soil aeration and water retention, which reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers. [3]
- Millets also require less water than traditional crops like rice and wheat. Hence, they can be easily grown in areas facing water shortages.
- Millets are nutritionally superior to many staple grains, with 30 to 300% more nutritional content than rice. Thus, they can more effectively contribute to food security and nutrition.[4]
The Role of Millets in Drought-Prone Regions[5][6] [7]
The Indian agricultural sector accounts for more than 80% of groundwater.The upcoming global warming will drastically impact water availability, crop yield, and food security. Therefore, we need to move to practices that ensure the right amount of nutrition with the minimum social costs.
Concerning these circumstances, millets are vital crops in drought-prone regions of India and the world. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their role in sustainable agriculture:
1. Nutritional Benefits
Millets are gluten-free, but other than that, they are an excellent source of calcium, iron, and zinc.If we compare it to rice and wheat, it has a higher calcium and iron content.
Cardiovascular diseases are a common health risk factor today. In such a case, millet is a boon because it contains 65% carbohydrates in the form of polysaccharides and dietary fibre. It might help in managing the risk of heart ailments. [8]
Along with that, they also have a low Glycaemic Index (GI), which may help prevent diabetes and hypertension.
GI helps ease other bodily functions, such as digestion. People with digestive issues often suffer from multiple problems.
Therefore, with the help of qualified nutritionists and health experts, Aashirvaad has thus designed the Aashirvaad Digestive Quotient.
Only two minutes of a digestion quotient test will help you find your digestion score. Checking your Digestive Quotient once will give you an idea of how to plan and design meals using your scorecard.
2. Climate Change and Drought Resistance
Millets are drought-tolerant crops that can withstand high temperatures, low rainfall, and poor soil fertility.
They require about 1/3rd of that needed for rice and can be cultivated in areas with 350-400 mm rainfall. This low water footprint makes them an appropriate crop for arid and semi-arid regions like Rajasthan & Karnataka. This also makes them a dependable food source for people living in drought-prone areas.
3. Millets Mature Faster
Most millet varieties develop quickly, in around 65-100 days. This maturity time allows multiple cropping seasons per year, which reduces food scarcity. It benefits farmers by preparing them for any drought situations.
4. Economic Viability
Millet’s low inputs and production cost make it one of the best low-investment crops for resource-limited farmers. Its economic viability also makes the grain more attractive to farmers in drought-prone regions.
5. Livelihood Support
With millet agriculture, farmers can produce crops that serve as both food and straw. This adapts well to the survival needs of smallholders working in areas threatened by drought.
Besides, millet grains can also be easily stored for long periods as a reserve against crop failure and food shortages.
6. Cultural Significance
In India, millet has inherent dietary and cultural values. States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh use finger millet (ragi) to make idli, dosa, and ragi mudde (dumplings).
Pearl millet (bajra) is consumed in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana as a roti (flatbread), khichdi, or snack. Sorghum (jowar) is a widely eaten food in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, where it is used to make rotis, or bhakri, and porridge.
These millet-based recipes are a daily meal affair. It is also an important part of the culture during festivals such as Ragi Sankranti in Karnataka.
You can use Aashirvaad Ragi Atta, which is high in calcium and iron. This healthy flour is made from 100% ragi and is perfect for preparing traditional dishes like ragi mudde and dosas.
Aashirvaad Ragi Atta is non-preservative and of best-in-class purity, giving you a sustained energy supply all day.
Also read –
Millet vs Rice: Which is better?
Different Types of Millets you Must Know
Sorghum Millets (Jowar): Benefits and Nutrition
Brown Top Millet: The Superfood benefits
Going Gluten-Free? Here’s Why Millet Should Be Your Top Choice
The Reasons for Agricultural Transition in India
Millets grow throughout India. The major production areas are located in the southern states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, as well as some northern states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
You can find evidence of millets in the advanced Indus Valley Civilization archaeological sites. [9] Different millets were domesticated in India between 3000 to 4500 years ago. For example, Kodo millet (or Kodra) has records dating back to 3,000 years. [10]
Ayurveda strongly recommends these grains, which is why they have been a part of the Indian diet for centuries. Despite that, millet production declined in the last century. The following reasons led to its earlier decline:
1. Traditional farming methods.
2. Low buying prices in comparison to other grains affected farmer income.
3. Limited market access.
4. Lack of supply chains.
5. Restricted quality seeds, especially for minor millet.
6. Need for storage facilities.
7. Processing requirements for different millets.
8. Limited awareness of millet’s nutritional and environmental benefits led to their reduced cultivation and consumption.
9. The shift towards more profitable crops like sugarcane, wheat, rice, and maise has declined cultivation areas for millets.
Due to all these reasons, farmers are growing millet primarily for personal consumption rather than on a large scale for commercialisation.
Cash crops such as cotton, rice, wheat, and sugarcane constitute a major part of India’s crop production.
However, India is also a highly water-scarce economy, and its agriculture sector utilises 85% of total freshwater and 80% of groundwater. [11]
Using groundwater for a prolonged time for the most water-reliant crops like wheat and rice has led to its insufficiency. This has called for immediate adaptation policies to improve groundwater management and millet production to combat the climate change crisis. [12] [13]
Government Policies on Millet Farming
To address such problems, the Indian government has actively addressed agricultural challenges and promoted millet consumption. The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) set up a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals to increase millet production. This scheme aids farmers through incentives and provides the most recent agricultural technologies. [14]
At the same time, the government seeks to bring jowar, bajra, and ragi under the Public Distribution System (PDS) so that more people can consume them regularly.
These measures formed part of a multi-stakeholder approach to celebrating the International Year of Millets (IYM) in 2023. These programs focus on ways to help India’s millet value chain, build the brand, and publicise its nutritional strengths.
Millets, crops native to Asian countries, are so versatile that they can be processed into a wide variety of foods, such as snacks and flakes. You may have porridge made from coarse millet flour or use ground groats for baking.
Also, its health-giving benefits make it an inexpensive substitute for wheat and rice, regardless of age.
However, we urge you to choose wisely, considering your bio-individuality. If you are unsure what kind of millet might be good for your diet, our accredited nutritionists will provide the answer.
You can arrange a 45-minute consultation with our nutritionist, and they will answer all your questions about healthy living. You will also receive a suitable dietary program tailored to your physical condition and goals.
Millets: A Super Food and the Future of Agriculture
Consumers around the world are increasingly demanding food that meets standards for climate-smart agriculture. The need for millet farming has never been greater. Their resilience, nutritional benefits, and low input requirements make them ideal choices for sustainable agriculture.
Millet farming, especially in tribal and rural communities, is decidedly positive. It has been a primary food and income source for generations. Also, their high nutrient content can help lessen childhood malnutrition in undernourished areas with drought-resistant problem crops.
If we focus on millet, we may reverse climate change, ensure food security, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
Also read –
Little Millet (Samai Rice) Benefits
Foxtail Millet(Kangni): Benefits and Nutrition
Top 10 Millet Food Recipes You Can Make at Home
