{"id":105,"date":"2023-05-18T07:38:03","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T07:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/?page_id=105"},"modified":"2023-05-22T09:20:58","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T09:20:58","slug":"105-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/?page_id=105","title":{"rendered":"Gist and Future"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-41.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-186\" width=\"332\" height=\"108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-41.png 392w, https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image-41-300x98.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 332px) 100vw, 332px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s the <strong>International Year of Millets<\/strong>, as proclaimed by the <strong>FAO<\/strong>. Millets are well-suited for semiarid climates and have unique agronomic traits, such as being drought-resistant and abundant in protein, dietary fibre, minerals, and antioxidants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>India is home to two distinct types of millet. Sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet are all considered major millets, whereas foxtail millet, tiny millet, kodo, proso, and barnyard millet are all considered minor millets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Awareness of the health and environmental benefits of millets, along with efforts to revive ancient agricultural practises and encourage small-scale farmers, have all contributed to India&#8217;s Millet Revolution. It&#8217;s being heralded as the answer to the country&#8217;s problems of both public health and sustainable agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Do We Consider Millets to be Valuable &#8216;Nutri-Cereals&#8217;?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Climate Resilient Staple Food Crops:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are&nbsp;<strong>drought-resistant, require less water and can grow in poor soil conditions.<\/strong>&nbsp;This makes them a suitable food crop for areas with unpredictable weather patterns and water scarcity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rich in nutrients:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gluten-free:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are naturally gluten-free, making them suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adaptable:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets can be grown in a variety of soils and climates, making them a versatile crop option for farmers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sustainable:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are&nbsp;<strong>often grown using traditional farming methods<\/strong>, which are more sustainable and environmentally friendly than modern, industrial farming practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Millet?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>About:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a&nbsp;<strong>collective term referring to a number of small-seeded annual grasses<\/strong>&nbsp;that are cultivated as grain crops, primarily on marginal lands in dry areas in temperate,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drishtiias.com\/to-the-points\/paper1\/climatic-regions-of-world-part-i\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>&nbsp;subtropical and tropical regions.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some of the&nbsp;<strong>common millets available in India<\/strong>&nbsp;are Ragi (Finger millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Sama (Little millet), Bajra (Pearl millet), and Variga (Proso millet).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The earliest evidence for these grains has been found in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drishtiias.com\/to-the-points\/paper1\/indus-valley-civilization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Indus civilization<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;and was one of the first plants domesticated for food.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is&nbsp;<strong>grown in about 131 countries and is the traditional food<\/strong>&nbsp;for around 60 crore people in Asia &amp; Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is the largest producer of millet in the world.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It&nbsp;<strong>accounts for 20% of global production and 80% of Asia\u2019s production.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Distribution:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>India, Nigeria and China are the largest producers of millets<\/strong>&nbsp;in the world, accounting for more than 55% of the global production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For many years,<strong>&nbsp;India was a major producer of millets.<\/strong>&nbsp;However, in recent years, millet production has increased dramatically in Africa.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are Millets Considered Important \u2018Nutri-Cereals\u2019?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Climate Resilient Staple Food Crops:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are able to survive and thrive in dry, hot climates and may be grown in a wide variety of soil types.They can thrive in climates with erratic weather and limited water resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rich in nutrients:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gluten-free:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are naturally gluten-free, making them suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adaptable:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets can be grown in a variety of soils and climates, making them a versatile crop option for farmers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sustainable:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Traditional agricultural methods are commonly used for growing millets, and these methods are more environmentally friendly and sustainable than modern, industrial farming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the Constraints to Increased Millet Cultivation and Consumption?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Decline in the Area Under Millet Cultivation:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the past, 35 million acres of land were dedicated to growing millets. However, only 15 million ha are being used for cultivation at the moment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The reasons for a shift in<strong>&nbsp;land use include low yields, time-consuming and laborious tasks in the processing of millets<\/strong>&nbsp;which are undertaken by women.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Additionally, very little was marketed, and a tiny share of grain was processed into value-added products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2019-20, the total offtake of cereals through the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drishtiias.com\/to-the-points\/paper3\/public-distribution-system-1#:~:text=The%20Public%20distribution%20system%20(PDS,food%20grains%20at%20affordable%20prices.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Public Distribution System (PDS)<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/a><strong>and the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drishtiias.com\/daily-updates\/daily-news-analysis\/integrated-child-development-scheme#:~:text=The%20beneficiaries%20under%20the%20Scheme,check%2Dup%20and%20referral%20services.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;and also school meals was around 54 million tonnes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If about 20% of rice and wheat were to be replaced by millet, the state would have to procure 10.8 million tonnes of millet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low Productivity of Millets:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over the last decade, the production of sorghum (jowar) has fallen, the production of pearl millet (bajra) has stagnated, and the production of other millets, including finger millet (ragi), has stagnated or declined.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Awareness:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many people in India are&nbsp;<strong>not aware of the health benefits of millets,<\/strong>&nbsp;leading to low demand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High Cost:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are<strong>&nbsp;often priced higher than traditional cereals,<\/strong>&nbsp;making them less accessible to low-income consumers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited Availability:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Millets are<strong>&nbsp;not widely available in traditional and modern (e-commerce) retail markets<\/strong>, making it difficult for consumers to purchase them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Perceived Taste:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some people believe that&nbsp;<strong>millets have a bland or unpleasant taste,<\/strong>&nbsp;which discourages them from consuming them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agricultural Challenges:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The cultivation of millets is often associated with low yields and low profitability, which can discourage farmers from growing them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Competition from Rice and Wheat:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rice and wheat are staple foods in India and are widely available, making it difficult for millets to compete in the market.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Government Support:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has&nbsp;<strong>not provided enough support to promote the cultivation<\/strong>&nbsp;and consumption of millets, which has limited their growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>On April 10, 2008, millets were renamed &#8220;Nutri Cereals,&#8221; and 2018 had been declared the &#8220;National Year of Millets&#8221; as part of the government&#8217;s efforts to increase millet consumption. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the global market for millets is projected to be 4.5% between 2021 and 2016. The statement from the nodal agricultural ministry added that in 2023, a designated month will be set aside for various measures to promote IYM and build awareness about the benefits of millets. These initiatives will be carried out by the centre ministries, state governments, and Indian embassies. To celebrate the start of the International Year of Millets (IYM) and to stress the importance of millets in the G20 talks, the government has planned a number of millet-focused promotional activities across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Millets are a crucial part of farmers&#8217; resilience.<br>Growing millets is as easy as growing anything else. The fact that it can be grown with only rain means that it doesn&#8217;t need as much care as, say, wheat or rice. One of the first food crops to be planted was millets. Millets are convenient to cultivate and tend to since they adapt well to different climates and environments, mature quickly, and can be planted in a variety of cropping schemes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cultivation of millets is the way of the future. It has beneficial health effects, can be grown successfully, and provides economic benefits to farmers, making it an attractive crop option. There has been a 61% drop in India&#8217;s groundwater levels between 2007 and 2017. Therefore, due to its minimal water footprint and favourable climate needs, millet is an ideal crop to plant. Millets have the potential to become a cash crop and the benefits that come with it, which might make them an important part of global food security in the future. Millets are gaining popularity again for several reasons, including their health benefits and their ease of production. The government is taking steps to make millets once again a popular crop because of their better nutritional and protein content. If the crop is incorporated into our diets, we can lead more well-rounded lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/drishtiias.com\/images\/uploads\/1675255455_Millets_Drishti_IAS_English.png\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s the International Year of Millets, as proclaimed by the FAO. Millets are well-suited for semiarid climates and have unique agronomic traits, such as being drought-resistant and abundant in protein, dietary fibre, minerals, and antioxidants. India is home to two distinct types of millet. Sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet are all considered major millets, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":18,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-105","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=105"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":436,"href":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/105\/revisions\/436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/millet.defindia.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}