Ethnobotanical study of small millets from India: Prodigious grain for nutritional and industrial aspects

Abstract

India is the largest grower of minor millets and the cultivation of these small-seeded millets has declined steadily over the past few decades due to their lower economic competitiveness with major commodity like cereals, pulses etc. Finger millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, little millet and proso millet have a wide genetic adaptation and are able to grow successfully in diverse soils and climatic conditions and can withstand severe climatic stresses thus being the best candidates to substitute commodities like wheat and rice in areas where diversified agriculture is required. Minor millets have also excellent nutritional value having good protein content and better amino acid profile along with vitamin A, minerals, fibre, starch composition and low glycemic index. It constitutes a major source of carbohydrates and proteins for people living in semi-arid areas. So, it contributes to national food security and potential health benefits also, therefore millet grain is now receiving increasing interest from scientists, technologists, and nutritionists. They are doing innovative research on processing and value addition to millets to provide ready to eat and ready to cook items so that great masses can take the advantages. Value-addition to millet grain also offers good opportunity to rural and tribal farmers for income generation and promoting production and marketing leads to the food and nutritional security, employment and revenue generation etc.