Minor Millets: Profile and Ethnobotanical Scenario

Abstract

Minor millets are an agronomic community of genetically diverse species of cereal grasses, well adapted to a range of marginal growing conditions where major cereals are relatively ineffective, such as wheat, rice, and maize. Minor millets are grown in various soils in India, in varying rainfall regimes, and in areas where thermal and photographic cycles vary widely. Seven cultivated species, viz., finger millet, barnyard millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, little millet, kodo millet, and browntop millet represent minor millets. These millets provide millions of households with highly nutritious food and livelihood security, especially small and marginal farmers and residents of rainfed areas, particularly in remote tribal areas. They are now no longer referred to as coarse cereals but as nutricereals or nutraceutical crops, and are considered as a plausible answer to combat malnutrition and secret hunger worldwide. Indian tribal groups have a special link to minor millets as these crops have been an integral component of their agricultural systems and operations. Minor millets are being used by them from time immemorial not only to fight hunger but also for ethnomedical uses. This chapter emphasizes on the potential of minor millets for combating hunger, malnutrition and for ensuring food and nutritional security for tribal communities and discusses the initiatives being taken by the government and civil societies to promote millets-based farming system in India. Since these small millets have the capacity to cope up with the situation of current climate aberrations, it is imperative to increase the quality and productivity of these crops not only for tribal people living in harsh and difficult terrains but also for other masses living in suitable areas.