'M' FOR MILLETS

Millets... Millets... the whole of India is talking about it these days.

- Varghese Johnson

This grain has generated curiosity among many and raised their eyebrows ever since the UN declared 2023 the 'International Year of Millets. This is done following India's request to emerge as a global hub for millets and to educate the world about the active role of millets in promoting good health and eliminating food inequity. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India expressed his interest in making 2023 a 'People's Movement'. Before this, the Government of India announced 2018 as the 'National Year of millets' and called it 'nutri-cereals.' The intention was to boost the consumption and cultivation of millet in India. Our country thus has taken a giant leap forward in the field of crops, by shouldering the responsibility to endorse millets as a food that can fight against obesity and malnourishment.

What are millets?

The word 'millet' has its origin in the Medieval Latin term, 'millis' which means 'thousand.' Millets are a category of cereal grains that belong to the grass family and are a crucial crop for maintaining food security in areas with difficult climates because of their resilience to hard growth circumstances. Due to its versatility and nutritional value, experts refer to millet as "poor man's food grain". It is widely believed that the origin of millets is attributed to a wild grass once seen in West Africa.

Millets and India

Millets such as foxtail, barnyard, and black finger are mentioned in Yajurveda texts which indicate that this crop was cultivated in India during 1200 BCE. According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India is the world's largest producer of millets.