Chapter: 5 - India wealth: millet for health

Introduction

• Millets are a type of tiny-seeded annual grasses that are cultivated primarily as grain crops on marginal land in arid climates of temperate, subtropical, and tropical countries.

• The main regions for millet crop production and consumption are Asia and Africa.

Millets are categorised.

• Sorghum(Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), and Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua) are the three major millets (Jowar).

• Foxtail Millet (Kangani/Kakun), Kodo Millet, Proso Millet (Cheena), Barnyard Millet (Sanwa/Sawa/Jhangora), and Small Millet(Kutki) are examples of minor millets (Kutki).

• Amaranth (Chaulai) and buckwheat(Kuttu) are pseudo-millets .

• The top five millet-producing states in India are Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

Facts and figure

• India is the world's largest producer of millets, contributing 20% of worldwide output and 80% of Asia's production, producing more than 170 lakh tonnes of millets annually.

• The average production of millets in India (1239 kg/hectare) is also greater than the 1229 kg/hectare average output worldwide.

• The three main types of millet grown in India are: Pearl Millet (Bajra) – 61%, Jowar (Sorghum) – 27%, and Finger Millet (Mandua/Ragi) – 10%.

• Millets have a long history in our tradition, culture, and old civilization; the Vedas, Puranas, and Tolkappiyam all mention millets and their importance.

Significance of millets environmental-friendly crop

• Millets are resistant to climate change since they don't have pest problems, can grow in a variety of temperatures and moisture regimes, and need less chemical fertiliser to grow.

• They become crops that are climate-smart and biodiverse. The water and carbon footprints of these crops are minimal.

Small farmer-friendly options

• Millets are a sustainable and feasible revenue source for small and marginal farmers because of the cheap investment required for their cultivation.

Food and financial security

• Compared to other food grains, millets are more affordable.

• The area and output of millets have dramatically expanded under India's National Food Security Program, going from 14.52 million tonnes in 2015–16 to 17.96 million tonnes in 2018–19. (2020-21).

Including millets in the food basket

• The Government of India designated 2018 as the "National Year of Millets" to promote their consumption and increase production.

• Millets are known as "nutri-cereals" because of their high nutritional value.

• Poshan Abhiyan - Poshan Abhiyan, also known as the National Nutrition Mission, was introduced in March 2018 with the aim of lowering the nation's malnutrition rate. In order to combat malnutrition, harness traditional knowledge systems, and popularise the use of millets in regional dishes to improve the quality of supplemental nutrition, Poshan 2.0 was introduced in 2021.

• To improve the nutritional value offered under the Supplemental Nutrition programme of Anganwadi Services, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has further urged all states and union territories to include millets in the recipes.

• At least once every week, millets are provided.

Initiative by the government

• The GoI is organising a variety of innovative campaigns on radio, social media, offline events, and activities to highlight millets as a superfood, revive old recipes, and so make it an essential part of the mainstream food basket.

• Millets have been featured at events like the Dubai Expo, IITF (International Indian Trade Fair), Surajkund Mela, etc.

• More than 500 businesses are active in India's millet value chain, and the Indian Institute on Millet Research has supported 250 of them through its RKVY-RAFTAAR (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors Rejuvenation incubator programme).

• Every Sunday, the FSSAI (Food safety and Standard Authority of India) celebrates "recipe ravivar" on social media, with each month honouring a particular type of millets.

• All around the country, Walkathons and Eat Right Melas have been organised.

• Fried foods like samosas, bread pakoras, and the like have been removed off the Union Health Ministry's canteen menu in favour of millet roti, cheelas, and other healthier options.

• In preparation for IYM 2023, the Indian government launched a set of seven sutras and provided funds from several government ministries for the purpose.

• The seven sutras define areas in the improvement of production/productivity, nutrition and health benefits, value addition, processing, and recipe development, entrepreneurship/startup/collective development, awareness creation-branding, labelling, and promotion, international outreach, and policy interventions for mainstreaming.

• The government also intends to link companies with these centres' Centers of Excellence on Millets, which will be established across the nation.