2023 is the IYOM—FAO—UN—
Millets are packed with high quality nutrients.
It is critical as there are 800 million people malnourished in the world and in India 200 million are under malnutrition.
Millets are small coarse grains from grass and in India it was there for some 5000 years ago. Now 130 countries grow millets.
It is staple diet to 500 million people in Africa and Asia.
India produces roughly 20 million tons of millets annually. Total world production is around 30 million tonnes.
Major millets growing nations are India—Nigeria, Niger—China—Mali-Burkina Faso—Sudan—Ethiopia—Chad and Senegal.
Major millets grown in India are—Pearl millets or Bajara;—Sorghum ( Jowar) & Finger millet ( Ragi)
Some names in Malayalam are
Little millets or Chama
Foxtail millet or Tina
Kodo Millet or Varagu
Finger millet or Ragi
Pearl millet or Bajara
Jowar or Manicholam
Barnyard or Kuthirivali
Major millets growing states are:
Rajasthan; Karnataka; Maharashtra; UP; Haryana; Gujarat; MP; TN; AP; Jharkhand
There are positive millets and neutral millets-& negative grains
Positive millets are :
Foxtail –Thina
Kodo– Varagu
Barnyard –Kuthrivali
Brown top—American millet
Little millet or Chama
Health Benefits of millets
Foxtail ( Thina)—Nerve tonic; Fighting Epilepsy; fighting Parkinson’s; relief from Arthritis
Kodo millets—( Waragu)—-Cleaning blood impurities; fighting anemia; eases constipation; helps insomnia; diabetes; urinary infections.
Barnyard Millets—– ( Kutriravali)—Boosts liver function; Kidney helper ; Reduces LDL Cholesterol; Boosts endocranial glands.
Little Millets —Chamma—- Helps in solving infertility and eases uterus functions.
Brown to Millets—American millets—Very good for eyes; reducing obesity; hypertension; digestive disorders; arthritis.
Besides generally ragi, chama (little millet), thina (foxtail millet), varagu (kodo millet), panivaragu (proso millet), manicholam (sorghum), kambu (bajra) and kuthiravali (barnyard millet) are cultivated.