Minor millets: An underutilized grains to ensure food security

Abstract

Minor millets, often overshadowed by their major cereal counterparts, possess untapped potential in securing food sustainability and enhancing global nutrition. This paper explores the multifaceted advantages of minor millets, including their nutritional richness, agronomic resilience, and socio-economic significance. Through an extensive review of literature and case studies, it elucidates the pivotal role of these underutilized grains in addressing key challenges such as malnutrition, climate change, and rural poverty. By promoting the cultivation and consumption of minor millets, policymakers, researchers, and communities can unlock pathways toward resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems. This abstract serves as a call to action for stakeholders to recognize and harness the inherent value of minor millets in shaping a more equitable and nourished world. This article explores the critical role of minor millets in ensuring food security and sustainability. Despite their nutritional richness and resilience to environmental stress, minor millets have been largely underutilized. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and case studies, this paper highlights the significance of incorporating minor millets into agricultural and dietary practices. It discusses the nutritional benefits, agronomic advantages, and socio-economic implications of promoting minor millet cultivation. Moreover, it addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with mainstreaming these grains into food systems. By shedding light on the untapped potential of minor millets, this article advocates for policy interventions and community-based initiatives to enhance food security and promote sustainable agriculture.