Millets-Natural fortified cereals
Millets-Natural fortified cereals
What are millets
Millets are a group of small seeded grasses belonging to the family poaceae. They are categorized into major and minor or small millets based on the area occupied for cultivation. Sorghum, bajra, ragi are the three major millets and Foxtail, Barnyard, Kodo, Proso and Little are the five minor millets
Importance of millets
Millets (Sorghum, bajra and small millets) are important food and the fodder crops in semi-arid regions which are gaining importance in countries facing climatic uncertainties, increasing population and malnutrition.These crops are store houses of nutrients and are adapted to wide range of temperatures,moisture-regimes and input conditions. They provide food, feed and fodder to millions of dryland farmers, particularly in developing countries in addition to being the raw material for alcohol and starch production.These crops are primarily grown in agro ecologies subjected to low rainfall and drought. Most such areas are unsuitable for the production of other grains unless irrigation is available. Following is the general information on major and minor millets and their nutritional composition.
Nutritive value of millets
Nutritive value of millets (per 100g)
|
Crop / Nutrient |
Protein (g) |
Fat (g) |
Fibre (g) |
Minerals (g) |
Iron (mg) |
Calcium (mg) |
Phosphorus (mg) |
|
Rice |
6.4 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
9.0 |
143 |
|
Wheat |
11.8 |
1.5 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
5.3 |
41 |
306 |
|
Sorghum |
10.4 |
1.9 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
4.1 |
25 |
222 |
|
Bajra |
11.6 |
5.0 |
1.2 |
2.3 |
8.0 |
42 |
296 |
|
Finger millet |
7.3 |
1.3 |
3.6 |
2.7 |
3.9 |
344 |
283 |
|
Foxtail millet |
12.3 |
4.3 |
8.0 |
3.3 |
2.8 |
31 |
290 |
|
Proso millet |
12.5 |
1.1 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
0.8 |
14 |
206 |
|
8.3 |
1.4 |
9.0 |
2.6 |
0.5 |
27 |
188 |
|
|
Little millet |
7.7 |
4.7 |
7.6 |
1.5 |
9.3 |
17 |
220 |
|
Barnyard millet |
6.2 |
2.2 |
9.8 |
4.4 |
5.0 |
20 |
280 |
General information on Millets
|
Sorghum |
Finger millet |
Foxtail millet |
||
|
Scientific name |
Sorghum bicolor |
Pennisetum glaucum (L.) |
Eleusine coracana (L.) |
Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. |
|
Common name |
Sorghum |
Pearl millet |
Finger millet |
Italian millet and setaria |
|
Family |
Poaceae |
Poaceae |
Poaceae |
Poaceae |
|
Vernacular name |
Jwari, Juara, Jowar, Cholam, Jonna,Jola |
Bajri, Bajra, Sajjalu, Kambu,sajje |
Marwa, Nagli, Keppai,Ragulu,Ragi Mandia, Mandhuka |
Korralu, Kaon Kang Kakum Navane Tenai Kangni |
|
Origin |
northeastern Africa |
Sahelian Africa |
East Africa (Ethiopia) |
Central Asia(China) |
|
Ploidy |
Diploid (2n = 20) |
Diploid (2n = 14) |
Allopolyploid, 2n = 4x = 36 |
Diploid,2n=18 |
|
Genome size |
~ 700Mbp |
~1.79Gb |
1,593 Mb |
∼490 Mb |
|
Season |
Kharif and Rabi |
kharif (June–September), summer (February–May), Rabi (November–February) |
Kharif and Rabi |
Kharif |
|
Major states |
Maharashtra Karnataka Madhya Pradesh Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu |
Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana |
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, West Bengal and Bihar. |
A.P., Karnataka, Rajastan, M.P., Chattisgarh |
|
Uses |
Food (unleavened bread, Sankati, thin porridge, Pops, Atta, flaking and Biscuits), Feed (Poultry), Fodder, Biofuel |
food (leavened and unleavened flat breads and porridges), feed and fodder (dry and green) |
roti (unleavened flat breads), kazhi (finger millet balls), and kanji (thin porridge) |
Cooked rice, Kheer, Mudde, Roti, Thin Porridge, Dosa, ,Sattu,Halwa |
|
|
Kodo millet |
Barnyard millet |
Proso millet |
Little millet |
|
Scientific name |
Paspalum Scrobiculatum |
Echinochloa frumentacea |
Panicum miliaceum L |
Panicum sumatrense Roth |
|
Common name |
Kodo millet |
Indian Barnyard millet |
Common millet |
Little millet |
|
Family |
Poaceae |
Poaceae |
Poaceae |
Poaceae |
|
Vernacular name |
Kodo, Kodra, Kodon Arikelu, Varagu,Harka |
Udalu ,Kuthiraivolly, Sanwa Khira, Shyama, Oodalu |
Varigalu, Chena Baragu, Pani, varagu, Baragu, Vari |
Samalu, Samai, Kutki, Sava Same, Gajro |
|
Origin |
India |
India |
Central Asia-India |
India |
|
Ploidy |
Tetraploid,2n=4x=40 |
Hexapoid,2n=6x=54 |
2n=4x=36 |
2n=4x=36 |
|
Genome size |
Not available |
Not Available |
|
Not Available |
|
Season |
Kharif |
Kharif and Rabi |
Kharif ((onset of monsoon), summer) |
Kharif and Rabi |
|
Major states |
M.P., Chattisgarh, T.N., & Maharashtra |
Karnataka, M.P.,Uttarakhand,U.P.,North East |
Bihar, North East, Maharashtra
|
Karnataka, T.N., A.P., M.P.,Jharkhand, Orissa Maharashtra & Chattisgarh |
|
Uses |
Cooked rice |
Cooked rice ,Kheer, Roti, Thin Porridge, Halwa |
Cooked rice, Kheer, Roti, Thin Porridge, Sattu, Halwa |
Cooked rice, Kheer, Thin Porridge, Dosa, ,Sattu , Halwa |
Authors
- Deepika Cheruku, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad-500030
- Swarna Ronanki, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad-500030
- Jinu Jacob, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad-500030
- Gayatri Bandaru, Indian Institute of oil Seed Research, Hyderabad-500030
References
- Karuppasamy, P. (2015). Overview on Millets. Trends in Biosciences, 8(13), 3269-3273.
- Malathi D, Varadharaju N, Gurumeenakshi G.(2014) T. Study on nutrient composition of millets and ways to minimize loss during Processing and value addition. Project completion report Submitted to Agricultural Policy Planning, State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu.
- Patil J V, Vilas A Tonapi, and B Dayakar Rao.(2015).Millets improvement and utilization: progress and prospects; In Vilas A Tonapi, B Dayakar Rao,J V Patil Millets-promotion for Food, Feed, Fodder, Nutrient and Environmental Security. Society of Millets Research, 11-127, ICAR-Indian Institute of Milles Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030, India.pp.1-33.
- Seetharam A. (2011) Small millets as viable crops- recent. Developments, challenges and research gaps. Emeritus Scientist, Ex Project Project Coordinator (Small Millets), ICAR.
- http://millets.res.in/millets_info.php
Last Modified : 1/9/2023
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