Millet Telugu

 

Millets

Future of Food & Farming

Millet Network of India - Deccan Development Society - FIAN, India

 

Our Millets English : Great Millet/ Sorghum

English : Spiked Millet/ Pearl Millet

Bengal Beng alii Gujarati Gujara ti Hind Hi ndii Kannada Marathi Marat hi Oriya Punj Pu njab abii

: : : : : : :

Bengal Beng alii Gujara Guj arati ti Hindi Kannada Marath Mar athii Oriya Punj Pu njab abii Tam amil il Tel elug ugu u

T amil ilu Tam elug el ugu

:: C hola ho lam Jonn Jo nna am

Jow J owar  ar  Jowari, Juar  Jowa Jo wari ri,, Ju Juar  ar  Jola Jowari, Jondh Jowari, Jondhala ala Juara Jowar  Jow ar 

: : : : : : : : :

Bajra Baj ra Bajri Ba jri Bajra Sajje Bajri Baj ri Bajra Bajra Baj ra Kam ambu bu Sajj Sa jja a

English : Finger Millet Bengal Beng alii : Marw Marwa a Gujarati Gujar ati : Nagli, Bavt Bavto o Hind Hi ndii : Ra Ragi gi,, Mand Mandik ika, a, Marwah Kannada : Ragi Marath Mar athii : Nagli, Nac Nachni hni Oriy Or iya a : Ma Mand ndia ia Punjabi Punja bi : Mandhuka, Mandhuka, Mandh Mandhal al Tam amil il : Keppa Keppai, i, Rag Ragi, i, Kel Kelvar varagu agu Telu elugu gu : Ragi Ragi Cho Chodi di

English : Little Millet English : Italian FoxtailMillet/ Millet Bengal Beng alii Gujara Guj arati ti Hindi Kannada Marath Mar athii Oriy Or iya a Punjabii Punjab Tam amil il Tel elug ugu u

Bengal Beng alii Gujarati Gujar ati Hind Hi ndii Kannada Kanna da Marathi Marat hi Oriya Punj Pu njab abii Tam amil il Tel elug ugu u

: : : : : :

Kao K aon n Kang Kang Kakum Navane Kang, Ral Kang, Rala a Kang Ka nghu hu,, Ka Kang ngam am,, Kora : Kan Kangni gni : Ten enai ai : Ko Korr rra a

: : : : : : : : :

Sama Sam a Gajro; Kuri Kutk Ku tki, i, Sh Shav avan an Same,, Save Same Save Sava, Halvi Halvi,, vari Suan Swank Swa nk Sam amai ai Sama Sa malu lu

English : Kodo Millet Bengal Beng alii Gujara Guj arati ti

: Kod Kodo o : Kodra Kodra

H indi Kannada Marat Ma rathi hi Oriya Punjab Pun jabii Tam amil il Telu elugu gu

:: : : : : :

English : Common Millet/ Proso Millet/ Bengalii Bengal Gujara Guj arati ti Hind Hi ndii Kannada Marath Mar athii

: : : : :

Cheena Cheena Cheno Cheno Chen Ch ena; a; Ba Barr rrii Baragu Vari

Oriya Oriy a Punjab Pun jabii Tam amil il Tel elug ugu u

: : : :

China Chin a Ba Bach char arii ba bagm gmu u Cheena Cheena Pani Pa ni va vara ragu gu Var arig iga a

Kodon Harka Kodra Kod ra Kodua Kodra Kod ra Var arag agu u Arikelu, Arikel u, Ari Arika ka

English : Barnyard Millet Bengalii Bengal Gujara Guj arati ti Hindi Kannada Mara Ma rath thii Oriya Punj Pu njab abii Tam amil il Telu elugu gu

: : : : : : : : :

Shyama Shyama .... .... Sanwa Oodalu ... ... Khira Swank Swa nk Kuth Ku thir irai aivo voll lly y Udalu, Kod Udalu, Kodisa isama ma

 

Millets

Future of Food & Farming

Millet Network of India Deccan Development Society FIAN, India

 

Understanding millets Millets as Miracle Grains

I

n India, out of the total net sown area of 141.0 Mha, rainfed area accounts for 85.0 Mha spread over 177 distr districts. icts. This constitutes constitutes approximately approximately 60 perce percent nt of the total farming area in the countr cou ntry y. Rai Rainfe nfed d agr agricu icultu lture re con contri tribut butes es 44% of the tot total al foo food d gra grain in pro produc ductio tion n of the cou countr ntry y and produces 75% of pulses and more than 90% of sorghum, millet and groundnut from arid and semiarid ari d reg region ions. s. Eve Even n aft after er halfa cen centur tury y of neg neglec lect, t, the rai rainfe nfed d reg region ions s pro provid vide e live liveliho lihood od to nea nearly rly 50% of the tot total al rur rural al wor workfo kforce rce and sus sustai tain n 60%of cat cattle tle pop populat ulation ion of thecountr thecountry y.

Aboutt MINI Abou Millet Network of India (MINI) is an all India alliance of 65 institutions, individuals consisting of  farmers, scientists, nutritionists, policy makers, civil society groups and food activists representing over 15 states of India. The network has had several national consultations consultations and has articulated that millet farming is not just about production of a narrow array of crops but is a brilliant concept that realis rea lises es bio biodiv divers ersity ity,, eco ecolog logica icall pro produc ductio tion n sys system tems s as wel welll as foo food d sov sovere ereign ignty ty to far farmin ming g populations. For thousands of years, millet farms have been growing a range of millets such as Sorghu Sor ghum, m, Pea Pearl rl mil millet let,, Fox Foxtai taill mil millet let,, Lit Little tle mil millet let,, Kod Kodo o mil millet let,, Pro Proso so mil millet let,, Bar Barnya nyard rd mil millet let alo alongs ngside ide pulses (red gram, cowpea, beans, green gram, black gram, lentils) and oilseeds (sesame, niger, amaran ama ranth, th, saf safflo flower wer,, mus mustar tard).There d).Therefor fore e the they y pro produc duce e an ext extrao raordi rdinar nary y foo food d sys system tem tha thatt can sec secure ure India’s food and farming in future.That was why the MINI has refused to call millets as Coarse Cereal Cer eals s and ren rename amed d the them m as Nut Nutriri-cer cereals eals..

Aboutt Mill Abou Millets ets Millets need very little water for their production. Compared to irrigated commodity crops currently promoted by polic icy y measures, mille letts nee need d no irr irriga igatio tion n and require just around 25% of the rainfall regime regi me de dema mand nded ed by cr crop ops s su such ch as su suga garc rcan ane e an and d ba bana nana na.. Th Thus us,, th they ey do no nott bu burd rden en th the e st stat ate e wi with th demand dem ands s forirriga forirrigatio tion n or pow power er.. Millets are adapted to a wide range of ecological conditions often growing on skeletal soils that are les less s tha than n 15 cm dee deep. p. It doe does s not dem demand and ric rich h soil soils s for the their ir sur surviv vival al and gro growth wth.. Hen Hence, ce, for the vast va st dr dryl ylan and d ar area ea,, th they ey ar are e a bo boon on.. Millet pro Millet produc ductio tion n is not dep depend endent ent on the use of syn synthe thetic tic fer fertili tilizer zers. s. Mos Mostt mil millet let far farmer mers s the theref refore ore use farmyard manures and in recent times, household produced biofertilisers. Therefore, they can signif sig nifica icantl ntly y red reduce uce the hug huge e bur burden den of fer fertili tilizer zer sub subsidyborne sidyborne by thegovern thegovernmen ment. t. Grown Grow n un unde derr tr trad adit itio iona nall me meth thod ods,no s,no mi mill lletatt etattra ract cts s an any y pe pest st.. Th Theycan eycan beter beterme med d as pest-free cr crop ops. s.  A majority of them are not affected by storage pests either. Therefore, their need for pesticides is close clo se to nil.Thus,they are a gre great at boo boon n to the agr agricu icultu ltural ral env enviro ironme nment. nt. Millets are amazing in their nutrition content. Each of the millets is three to five times nutritionally superi sup erior or to the wid widely ely pro promot moted ed ric rice e and whe wheat at in ter terms ms of pro protei teins, ns, min minera erals ls and vit vitami amins. ns.

 

3

Millets Mill ets as Clim Climate ate Chan Change ge Comp Complian liantt Crop Crops s  All these qualities of millet farming system make them the climate change compliant crops. Climat Cli mate e cha change nge por porten tends ds les less s rai rain, n, mor more e hea heat, t, red reduce uced d wat water er ava availab ilabilit ility y and incr increas eased ed mal malnut nutrit rition ion.. If there is any cropping system that can withstand these challenges, survive and flourish, it is the millet syste system. m. It is important to note that with the projected 2 degree celsius temperature rise, wheat might disapp dis appear ear fro from m our mid midst,since st,since it is an ext extrem remely ely the therma rmall sen sensit sitive ive cro crop. p. Similarly, the way rice is grown under standing water makes it a dangerous crop under climate change conditions. Methane emanating from water-drenched rice fields, is a green house gas, that severely sever ely threa threatens tens our envir environment onment.. Millets ar are al a ll-season cr c rops cul cultiv tivate ated d rou round nd theyear whereas wh wheat is is se season sp specific. While wheat and rice might provide only food security, millets produce multiple securities (food, (fo od, fod fodder der,, hea health lth,, nut nutrit rition ion,, liv liveli elihoo hood d and eco ecolog logica ical) l) mak making ing the them m the cro crops ps of  agricultural security security..

Disappea Disa ppearing ring Mill Millet et sys system tem In spite of all these extraordinary qualities and capacities of millet farming systems, the area under  millet production has been shrinking over the last five decades and rapidly, since the Green Revolution period. Between 1966 and 2006, 44% of millet mil let cultivation areas were occupied by other  crops cro ps sig signif nifyin ying g an ext extrao raordi rdinar nary y lossto Ind India’ ia’s s foo food d and far farmin ming g sys system tems. s. Declin Dec lining ing sta state te sup suppor portt in ter terms ms of cro crop p loa loans ns and cro crop p ins insura urance nce has sig signif nifica icantl ntly y con contri tribut buted ed to thi this s declin dec line e and fal falll of mil millet lets s in Ind Indian ian agr agricul icultur ture. e. Unless Unl ess thi this s is halt halted ed urg urgent ently ly thr throug ough h a sle slew w of pol policy icy and fin financ ancial ial inc incent entive ives,m s,mille illets ts mig might ht dis disapp appear  ear  from fr om th the e ag agra rari rian an lan lands dsca cape pe of In Indi dia a ov over er th the e ne next xt fi fift fty y ye year ars.This s.This wi will ll no nott on only ly be a los loss s to In Indi dia’ a’s s fo food od and far farmin ming g sys system tems, s, but wil willl alsoprove to be a civ civilis ilisati ationa onall and eco ecologi logical cal disa disaste sterr. Ther Th eref efor ore, e, th ther ere e is an ur urge gent nt ne need ed fo forr In Indi dian an po poli licy cy ma make kers rs to re refo focu cus s th thei eirr at atte tent ntio ion n to towa ward rds s millet mill et farm farming ing systems and enact polic policies ies that creat create e an enabli enabling ng envir environmen onmentt for millet farmers.

Global Pattern of Millet Consumption India is the top consumer of millets in the world. Indian eat 42% of millets produced globally.

Top Millet Consumers in the world (Five Yea Yearr Aver Average age in Metric Tonnes) Tonnes)

country India Nigeria Niger  China Burkina Faso Mali Sudan Uganda Senegal Chad Russian Federation Ethiopia Nepal Myanmar  Tanzania Ghana

 

5-year average 9,041,765 4,299,211 1,733,793 1,116,505 856,337 701,701 560,548 408,137 347,989 296,119 280,941 259,490 251,027 137,759 136,409 117,955

 

Profile of millets

Securing food, securing climate Millets are Foods of Future

M

illets are astonishingly low water consuming crops. The rainfall needed for Sorghum, Pear Pe arll Mi Mille llett an and d Fi Fing nger er Mi Mill llet et is le less ss th than an 25 25% % of su suga garc rcan ane e an and d ba bana nana na,, an and d 30 30% % th that at of  rice. We use 4000 litres of water to grow one kg of rice while all millets grow without irrigation. This can turn out to be a tremendous national gain especially in the ensuing decades of  climate crisis. In a future, where water and food crisis stares us in the face, millets can become the food of secur security ity.. Comparison of Water requirements of Different crops Pulses

2500 2100

Pearl Millet

2000

1500

1250

1000

500

  350 300 350

  500 400   450

  600

0

Water requirement (mm)

Finger Millet Sorghum Ground Nut Maize Cotton Rice Sugar Cane

 Table 1: Comparativ Comparative e rainfall requirement requirement of various crops Cro p S ug a r c a n e Ban an a Ri ce Ch il li es Co tto n Ma i z e Gr o u nd n ut So r gh um Baj ra Rag i P ul s e s Sesame (T ( Ti l )

Rai nf(in all mm) al r eq u ir emen t 2000-2200 2000-2200 1200-1300 600 600-650 500-550 450-500 400-500 350-400 350-400 300-350 300-350

(in mm)

 

5 Millets are store-houses of nutrition By any nutritional parameter, millets are miles ahead of rice and wheat In terms of  their the ir min minera erall con conten tent, t, com compar pared ed to ric rice e and wheat. Each one of the millets has more fibre than rice and wheat. Some as much as fifty times that of rice. Finger millet has thirty times more Calcium than rice while every other millet has at least twice the amount of Calcium compared to rice. In their the ir Iro Iron n con conten tent, t, fox foxtai taill and lit little tle mil millet let are so rich that rice is nowhere in the race. While Wh ile mo most st of us se seek ek a mi micr cron onut utri rien entt su such ch as Beta Carotene Carotene in pharm pharmaceut aceutical ical pills and capsules, millets offer it in abundant quant qua ntiti ities. es. The muc much h pr privi ivileg leged ed ric rice, e, ironic iro nically ally,, has zer zero o qua quanti ntity ty of thi this s pre precio cious us micronutrient. In this fashion, nutrient to nutrient, every single millet is extraordinarily superior to rice and wheat and therefore is the solution for the malnutrition that affects a vast majority of the Indianpopula Indian population. tion.

 Table  T able 2: Nutrient Content Content of Millets Millets Crop Cr op / Nu Nutr trie ient nt

Prot Pr otei ein( n(g) g)

Fibe Fi ber( r(g) g)

Mine Mi nera rals ls(g (g)) Iron Iron(m (mg) g) Ca Calc lciu ium( m(mg mg))

Pearl millet

10.6

1.3

2.3

16.9

38

Finger millet

7.3

3.6

2.7

3.9

344

Foxtail millet Proso millet

12.3 12.5

8 2.2

3.3 1.9

2.8 0.8

31 14

Kodo millet

8.3

9

2.6

0.5

27

Little millet

7.7

7.6

1.5

9.3

17

Barnyard millet

11.2

10.1

4.4

15.2

11

Rice

6.8

0.2

0.6

0.7

10

Wheat

11.8

1.2

1.5

5.3

41

 

6

Comparative Nutrition Chart of Millets with Wheat & Rice Protein

Iron 12

14 12

10

10 8 8 6 6 4

4

2

2

0

0 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1

10 10

In grams per 100 grams of edible portion

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

in milli grams per 100 grams of edible portion

18

Fiber

16

Calcium

350

14

300

12 250

10 8

200

6

150

4

100

2

50

0 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

10

1

In grams per 100 grams of edible portion

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

in milli grams per 100 grams of edible portion

Minerals

4.5

2

Sorghum

Proso millet

Pearl millet

Kodo millet

Finger millet

Barnyard millet

Foxtail millet

Rice

Little millet

Wheat

4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 10 0

In grams per 100 grams of edible portion

Millets grow on the poorest of soils Most mil Most millet lets s can be gro grown wn on low fer fertili tility ty soi soils. ls. Som Some e in aci acidic dic soi soils, ls, som some e on sal saline ine soi soils. ls. Mil Millet lets s suc such h as Pearl millet can also be grown on sandy soils, as is done in Rajasthan. In fact, finger millet grows well we ll in sa salin line e so soil ils. s. Ba Barn rnya yard rd mi mille llett to too o th thri rive ves s in pr prob oble lem m so soils ils,, wh wher ere e ot othe herr cr crop ops s lik like e ri rice ce,, st stru rugg ggle le to grow gr ow in su such ch so soils ils.. Ma Many ny of th them em ar are e al also so gr grow own n to re recl clai aim m so soil ils. s. Poor fa Poor farm rmer ers s es espe peci cial ally ly in dr dryl ylan and d In Indi dia a ar are e ow owne ners rs of ve very ry po poor or la land nds. s. Mu Much ch of th the e cu cult ltiv ivab able le fa fallo llows ws and low fertility farms have been handed to them through the process of land reforms and the

 

7 Jajamani system of Inam lands. The only crops that sustain agriculture and food security on these lands lan ds are mil millet lets. s. In fa fact ct,, th the e ca capa pacit city y of mi mill llet ets s to gr grow ow on po poor or so soils ils can be gauged from the fact that they grow in Saheli Sah elian an soi soill con condit dition ions s in We West st Afr Africa ica whi which ch produc prod uces es 74 74% % of al alll th the e mi mill llet ets s gr grow own n inAfr inAfric ica a an and d 28% of the world production. If they flourish in such ecological zones where average rainfall can be less than 500 mm using soils that are sandy and an d sl slig ight htly ly ac acid id,, it is a te test stim imon ony y fo forr th thei eirr, hardiness hardi ness and extra extraordina ordinary ry capaci capacity ty to surviv survive e very harsh conditions. That is why millets can withstand withs tand drought like condit conditions ions in the Deccan and Raj Rajast asthan han and pro produc duce e foo food d and fod fodder der forpeople and live livesto stock, ck, res respec pectiv tively ely..

Millets do not demand synthetic fertilisers Millets Millet s do not dem demand and che chemic mical al fer fertil tilize izers. rs. In fac fact, t, und under er dry land con condit dition ions, s, mill millets ets gro grow w bet better ter in the absence of chemical fertilizers. Therefore, most millet farmers grow them using farmyard manure under purely ecofriendly conditions. In recent years farmers have also started using biofertilisers such as vermicompost produced in their backyard and growth promoters such as panchagavya, amrit amr it pan panii etc etc.. The These se pra practi ctices ces mak make e mil millet let pro produc ductio tion n not onl only y eco ecofri friend endly ly but sta stays ys und under er the con contro troll of farme farmers. rs.

Millets are pest free crops Growing traditional local landraces and under ecological conditions, most millets such as foxtail are totall tot ally y pes pestt fre free.And e.And hen hence ce do not nee need d any pes pestic ticide ides. s. Eve Even n in sto storag rage e con condit dition ions, s, mos mostt mil millet lets s suc such h as fo foxt xtail ail no nott on only ly no nott ne need ed an any y fu fumi miga gant nts, s, bu butt ac actt as an anti ti pe pest st ag agen ents ts to st stor ore e de delic licat ate e pu pulse lses s su such ch as greengram. green gram.

Millets are not just crops but a cropping system Most millets grown under traditional practices are a Farming System and not just a crop. Most millet fields fie lds are inhe inheren rently tly bio biodive diverse rse.. This is the tra tradit dition ion of mil millet let far farmin ming g in the cou countr ntry y. Six to twe twenty nty cro crops ps are ar e pla plant nted ed on th the e sa same me sp spac ace e at th the e sa same me ti time me..

The fam famous ous Bar Barana anaja ja cro croppi pping ng sys system tems s in the Himalayas are a testimony to this. In this millet led system are embedded 12 different crop varieties. Saat Dhan in Rajasthan also is a host to a large variety of millets. The Pannendu Pantalu system of  the South, grow millets in combination with pulses and oil oilsee seeds, ds, thus mak making ing it a hol holist istic ic far farmin ming g system.

 

8 Millets produce multiple security  While single crops such as rice and wheat can succeed in producing food security for India millet mil lets s pro produc duce e mul multip tiple le sec securi uritie ties. s. The They y incl include ude securities of food, nutrition, fodder, fibre, health, livelihood livelih ood and ecolog ecology y. Most millets have edible stalks which are the most favoured fodder for cattle. Many a time, crops such as sorghum and pearl millet are grown gro wn onl only y fortheir fod fodder der val value. ue. Besides fod Besides fodder der,, mil millet lets s are sto storeh rehous ouses es of  nutrition and hence produce nutrition security. Being hosts to diverse crops such as red gram, millet fields also produce fuelwood and fibre through amaranth. The legume crops that are companion crops for millets are also prolific leaf shedders. This leaf fall acts as natural manure and maintains soil fertility. Thus, millet farms not just use soil fertility for their growth but also return this fertil fer tility ity to the soi soil. l.

Millets are climate change compliant crops Due to all the qualities mentioned above, Millets remain our agricultural answer to the climate crisis thatt theworld is fac tha facing ing.. Cli Climat mate e Cha Change nge is exp expect ected ed to con confro front nt us wit with h thr three ee cha challen llenges ges.. Increase Increa se in tem temper peratu ature re upt upto o 2-5 deg degree ree Cel Celsiu sius s Increasing Incre asing wate waterr stres stress s Severe Sever e malnut malnutrition rition Only mil Only millet lets s hav have e the cap capaci acity ty to me meet et thi this s cha challe llenge nge:: Since Sin ce the they y are alr alread eady y cap capabl able e of gro growin wing g und under er dro drough ughtt condit con dition ions, s, the they y can wit withst hstand and high higher er hea heatt reg regime imes. s. Millets Millet s grow under non-irrigated non-irrigated conditions in such low rainf rainfall all

regime regi mes s as be betw twee een n 20 200 0 mm an and d 50 500 0 mm mm.. Th Thus us,, th they ey ca can n al also so fa face ce thewater str stress ess and gro grow w. Each of the millets is a storehouse of dozens of nutrients in large quantities. They include major and micro nutrients needed by the human hum an bod body y. Hen Hence ce the they y can helppeoplewiths helppeoplewithstan tand d mal malnut nutrit rition ion..

In view of all these features that they so amazingly combine, millets can only be called as Miracle Mira cle Grai Grains. ns.

 

Decline and fall of millets  After  Af ter the Green Revolution

P 

ost Green Revolution, there has been a systematic decline in the production of millets. This can be understood from the production trends of millets vis a vis other crops such as rice and wheat that were relentlessl relen tlessly y promo promoted ted for inten intensive sive farmi farming ng in selectfew resour resource ce rich areas under irriga irrigated ted condi conditions tions..

Declining Production of Millets in Comparison to Rice and Wheat from 1956-2006 -

100

85.72

90 P  r   o  d 

 u  c  t    i     o n   (    i    n M i    l    l    i     o n  t     o n  e  s   )   

80

 

Rice

70

69.73

60

Wheat

50 40 30

 All Millets

17.97

20

13.64

Maize

10

Barley

0 1956-6 1956-61 1

1961-6 1961-66 6

1966-7 1966-71 1

 All Millets

1971-7 1971-76 6

Maize

1976-8 1976-81 1

1981-8 1981-86 6

Barley

1986-9 1986-91 1

Rice

1991-9 1991-96 6

96-200 96-2001 1

1.31 2001-0 2001-06 6

Wheat

 Table-3 Post Green Revolution: Revolution: millets vis-a-vis Other Crops in India (Production in Million tonnes) Crop Cr ops s

1966 19 66-7 -71 1 1971 1971-7 -76 6

1976 19 76-8 -81 1

1981 19 81-8 -86 6

1986 19 86-9 -91 1

1991 19 91-9 -96 6

1996 19 96-0 -01 1

2001 20 01-0 -06 6

%

17.97

[-] 2. 2.4

All Mi Millets

18.41

17.87

20.7

20.89

20.78

19.69

18.68

Rice

38.09

42.94

48.86

56.53

67.15

77.33

85

85.72 [+] 12 125

Wheat

18.1

25.17

32.88

43.37

49.92

60.12

70.61

69.73 [+] 28 285

Agricultu Agricu ltural rally ly,, nut nutrit rition ionall ally y and env enviro ironme nmenta ntally lly,, it is qui quite te tra tragic gic tha thatt we pro promot moted ed whe wheat at and rice to register a whopping increase of 285 and 125 percentage points respectively, state policies also allowed millets to suffer a decline of (-)2.4% after the Green Revolution in agriculture.

 

10 Shri Shrink nkin ing g Mi Mill llet et Ar Area ea Much of the decline in production can be attributed to the way millet cultivation areas have shrunk over ov er th the e las lastt fi fift fty y ye year ars.As s.As th the e ch char artt be belo low w sh show ows, s, th the e ar area ea in wh whic ich h mi mille llets ts ar are e cu cult ltiv ivat ated ed ha have ve sh show own n a steep decline between 1956 and 2006. During the same period, wheat and rice which were cultiv cul tivate ated d in les less s are area a tha than n mil millet lets s in 195 1955-5 5-56, 6, hav have e ste steadi adily ly cli climbe mbed d to ove overta rtake ke mil millet lets. s.

Declining Area of Millets in Comparision to Rice and Wheat from 1956-2006 50

Rice

45

42.85      ) 40     a      h      M35     n      i      (

 All Millets

    a 30     e     r      A      d 25     e     p     p     o 20     r      C     s 15     s     o     r      G10

26.2 21.31

Wheat

Maize

7.12

5

Barley

0.65

0 195 1956-6 6-61 1

196 1961-6 1-66 6

196 1966-7 6-71 1

1971-7 1971-76 6

 All Millets

197 1976-8 6-81 1

Maize

198 1981-8 1-86 6

Barley

1986-9 1986-91 1

1991-9 1991-96 6

Rice

96-200 96-2001 1

2001-0 2001-06 6

Wheat

 Table-4: Fifty years of cultivation of millets vis a vis other crops in India (Area in Million ha)

Crops Cro ps Millets

 Years 1956-6 195 6-61 1 196 1961-6 1-66 6 196 1966-7 6-71 1 1971-76 1971-76 197 1976-8 6-81 1

1981-8 198 1-86 6

1986-9 198 6-91 1 19911991-96 96 9696-200 2001 1 200 2001-0 1-06 6

36.2

36.81

37.89

35.27

34.16

33.39

30.88

25.9

23.17

21.31

Rice

33.14

35.63

36.79

38.02

39.77

40.5

41.31

42.53

44.31

42.85

Wheat

12.84

13.33

15.73

19.13

21.89

23.39

23.59

24.74

26.67

26.2

Cereals

89.65

93.29

98.89

100.95

103.58

104.54

102.7

100.04

1 01 01.29

98.13

156. 15 6.89 89

161. 16 1.73 73

166. 16 6.54 54

171 71.3 .32 2

176 17 6.7 .77 7

179. 17 9.49 49

186. 18 6.01 01

189. 18 9.67 67

185 18 5.7 .71 1

Gross Cro Cr opp pped ed 15 150. 0.51 51 Area

 All the figures are average of respective 5 years data

Table 4 describes how wheat dramatically climbed from 12.8 Mha to 26.2 Mha to double its area of  cultiv cul tivati ation, on, mil millet lets s hav have e suf suffer fered ed a 42% los loss s of the their ir cul cultiv tivate ated d are area, a, dro droppi pping ng fro from m 36. 36.2 2 Mha (19 (1956) 56) to 21.31 21. 31 Mha(2006) Mha(2006).. Similarly, while they occupied a pride place of 40% of “all cereal” cultivated area in 1956, they drop dr oppe ped d to a di dism smal al 21 21% % in 20 2006 06.. In te term rms s of th their eir pe perc rcen enta tage ge in Gr Gros oss s Cr Crop oppe ped d Ar Area ea of th the e co coun untr try y, this thi s is eve even n mor more e app appall alling,while ing,while in 195 1956. 6. nea nearly rly a qua quarte rterr of the Gro Gross ss Cr Cropp oppedArea edArea spo sporte rted d mil millet lets, s, yearr 200 yea 2006 6 sawmillet sawmillets s sur surviv viving ing in bar barely ely 11% of Ind India’ ia’s s Gro Gross ss Cro Croppe pped d Ar Area. ea.

 

Recognising and retrieving millets Policy matters 1.

Millets are water saving, drought tolerant crops. Therefore Therefore they must be viewed as climate climate change cha nge com complia pliant nt cro crops. ps. Thi This s qua qualit lity y mak makes es the them m Ind India’ ia’s s foo food d and far farmin ming g fut future ure.. Thi This s is the perspe per specti ctive ve fro from m whi which ch the mil millet let cul cultiv tivati ation on and its pro promot motion ion mus mustt be reg regard arded. ed. Eve Every ry mil millet let farmer far mer of Ind India ia mus mustt be giv given en a cli climat mate e cha change nge bonus, biodivers biodiversity ity bon bonus, us, water  conservati conse rvation on bonus bonus..

2.

The urgent urgent and immedia immediate te need need is to to put millets into the Public Distribution System. Different parts of India grow diverse kinds of millets. Rajasthan is home to Pearl Millet (Bajra). Deccan plateau (Marathwada in Maharashtra, Telangana in Andhra Pradesh and North Karnataka in Karnataka) Karnataka) is well known for sorghum. Southern Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Na du,, Or Oris issa sa an and d So Sout uthe hern rn Ka Karn rnat atak aka a ar are e th the e ho home me of Fin Finge gerr mi mill llet et.. Ut Utta tara rakh khan and d an and d ot othe her  r  hill and tribal areas cultivate a range of small millets such as Foxtail, Proso, Kodo and Barnyard. The Indian PDS system will be enriched with the high nutritive quality of  these the se mil millet lets s if the they y are inc includ luded ed in it.

3.

A nutritive analysis of millets vis a vis the major grains such as rice and wheat prove that nutrient to nutrient, millets score highly over the other grains. Compared to rice, they the y hav have e 30 to 300 300% % mor more e nut nutrit ritiona ionall elem element ents s suc such h as Cal Calcium cium,, Min Minera erals, ls, Iro Iron, n, Fib Fibre, re, Bet Beta a Carotine and many other micronutrients. Therefore the inclusion of millets in PDS will make mak e PDSa foo food d and nut nutrit rition ional al sec securi urity ty pro progra gramme mme.

4.

The pro millet PDS paradigm must depend on a completely decentralized approach based on the principle of local production, local storage and local distribution. This must be supported suppo rted by the government, government, both in procu procuremen rementt and in storage. This will resolv resolve e the question quest ion of availab availability ility and keepin keeping g qualit quality y.

5.

Government must hostel urgently provide space based foods in the ICDS, school meals and welfare programmes. Thisfor willmillet overcome the problem of malnutrition of  youn yo ung g ch chil ildr dren en a pr prob oblem lem wh wher ere e In Indi dia a fa fare res s wo wors rse e th than an th the e su sub b Sa Saha hara ran n re regi gion on,, th the e po poor ores estt in the wor world. ld.

6. All the these se act action ions, s, tog togeth ether er wil willl ope open n up new mar market kets s formillet far farmer mers s and rev revita italizethem. lizethem. 7.

There are a number number of institutional institutional mechanisms mechanisms that that needs to be created, created, nurtured nurtured and developed. Millets need a number of enabling conditions. The principal among these is to increase livestock which are local local breeds and adapted to local ecosystems. This will create a symbiotic relationship between farming and pastoralism, such as increased organic manure, fodder availability, milk production and increased incomes for  farmers.

8.

Urgent attention attention must be given to the productivity enhancement of the rainfed lands where millet mil lets s are gro grown. wn. Thi This s cou could ld be ach achiev ieved ed thr throug ough h spe specia ciall wat waters ershed heds s on mil millet let lan lands ds and

 

12 dovetail dovet ailing ing go gover vernm nment ent's 's em emplo ploym yment ent pr progr ogram ammes mes suc such h as NRE NREGA GA to sup suppor portt mi mille llett cultivati culti vation on fromsowing to harve harvesting sting. 9.

Millet farms Millet farms are are intrinsi intrinsically cally biodi biodiverse verse.. Therefore farming system development should become evaluation and resear research ch on millet the aim and not single crop development. The monitoring, evaluation cultiv cul tivati ation on mus mustt be tai tailor lored ed to thi this s spe specia ciall qua qualit lity y of mil millet let fa farmin rming g sys system.Po tem.Polic licy y mak makers ers mus mustt tak take e not note e of thefact thatmille thatmillets ts make make wa way y fo forr a dyn dynami amic c div divers ersity ity on farm farmersfields ersfields..

10. Millet Millets s canbe cul cultiv tivatedwitho atedwithout ut usi using ng gro ground undwa water ter or surf surface ace irri irrigati gation.Th on.Their eir ene energy rgy req requir uireme ement nt from sources such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, water and power can be near zero. This amazing capacity capac ity of this pro producti duction on syste system m mus mustt be honou honoured red thro through ugh offer offering ing socio socio-ecol -ecologica ogicall bonu bonus s to mill millet et gro growingfarmers. wingfarmers. Approp Appropriate riate instit institutiona utionall mechan mechanisms isms must be dev develope eloped d to assessthis. 11. Institutio Institutional nal finan finance ce and insur insurance ance which is offer offered ed gener generousl ously y to farme farmers rs who culti cultivate vate prefer pre ferred red gra grains ins suc such h as ric rice e and whe wheat at and non fo food od cro crops ps mu must st be ext extend ended ed to mil millet let far farmer mers s also. 12.. Rese 12 Resear arch ch in insti stitut tutio ions ns mu must st gi give ve a ne new w th thrus rustt on mi mill llet et ar area eas s an and d is issu sues es.. But su such ch research initiatives must be led by farmers since they offer exciting perspectives for the research which has to be people-cent peopl e-centered ered and peopledirected.

Millet Meal 

References: CSE (2007), “Rainfed Areas of India-Center for Science and environment”, downloaded on 29th July 2009 from http://www.cseindia.org/progra http://www .cseindia.org/programme/nrml/rainf mme/nrml/rainfed_specials.htm ed_specials.htm DoMD, “Area and Production analysis of millets in India”, Directorate of Millets Development (DoMD), Ministry of   Agriculture and Cooperation, Cooperation, Government Government of India, downloaded downloaded on 25th July 2009 2009 from http://dacnet.nic.in/millets/all_india_ap http://dacnet. nic.in/millets/all_india_apy_trend.htm y_trend.htm Sharma.J (2007), “National Conference on Argiculture for Rabi Campaign 2007” Presentation by Dr, J.S. Sharma, CEO, National Rainfed Agriculture Authority”, downloaded on 29th July 2009 from http://agricoop http://agricoop.nic.in/Rabi%20Conf .nic.in/Rabi%20Conference erence 2007/Dr.%20Samra.ppt#257,2,Rationale

 

India - Rainfed Region

Irrigated Area(>30% irrigation) Rainfed Area (