Agronomic biofortification of millets for nutritional security in India: Mechanisms, strategies, and future prospects

Abstract

The present world’s health emergency of hidden hunger, perceived in India as micronutrient malnutrition, faces additional difficulties due to high-yielding modern staple crops which decrease nutrient content. Climate-resilient millets and their nutritional base as nutri-cereals provide an effective genetic solution to fight against the widespread micronutrients (like zinc and iron) deficiencies which exist today. The Indian agricultural systems face challenges ranging from severe soil degradation to abiotic stresses, and thereby limiting their nutritional potential. The combining traditional plant breeding and agronomic practices with biofortification creates a solution that enables farmers to increase their grain nutrient density within a cropping season. The review investigates metal ion uptake mechanisms together with phloem loading processes and seed accumulation methods while assessing field effectiveness of specific agronomic practices which include foliar fertilization, seed nutri-priming, nano-fertilizers and integrated nutrient management (INM). This paper also reviews how different crop varieties respond to various conditions in India's main millet crops which include pearl millet (in arid regions) and finger millet (in lateritic soils) and dual-purpose sorghum. The extensive use of biofortified millets faces three main obstacles viz. ongoing economic expenses that burden resource-limited farmers, the anti-nutritional phytates restricting their nutrient absorption and the lack of premium market prices for the produce. The implementation of biofortification in mainstream fields requires future work to combine site-specific agronomy with post-harvest technology and effective policy measures like micronutrient subsidies and guaranteed procurement.