Page 34 - Millets Natures NutriGrain

an initiative by India, the United Nations has designated 2023 as the
International Year of the Millet. According to CM Shinde, Rs 200
crore has been set aside for supporting the companies engaged in the
processing of millets to ensure that the area of millets is sown rises

and farmers get paid fairly. The chief minister said, “This will lead
to a rise in the production and also the sale (of millets), and create a
value chain”.

N. Reddy et al. (2021) conducted a systematic review of 75 studies,

including peer-reviewed articles, reports, and other relevant literature,
published between 2008 and 2020. The studies covered a wide
range of topics related to millet, such as production, consumption,

nutrition, and health benefits. The review found that millets have
been an important source of nutrition and food security in India for
centuries. However, the consumption of millets has declined over
the years due to various reasons, such as the introduction of high-
yielding cereal crops and a lack of awareness among consumers

about the nutritional value of millets. The review identified several
factors that influence the awareness and utilization of millet in India.
These include socio-economic status, age, gender, education level,

and geographic location. For example, the authors found that millets
are more commonly consumed in rural areas, where they are grown
and readily available, than in urban areas. The review also highlighted
that women and children are particularly vulnerable to micronutrient
deficiencies and could benefit from the consumption of millet.

“Various tasty recipes using nutritious cereals like jowar, bajra, ragi,
varai, and rala crops have been included in the menu card of canteens
under the banner ‘healthier options’. Recipes include special dosa,
uttapam, dhirde, khichdi, biscuits, cake, modak, papad, ladu, and

upma, among other things made using these cereals,” said the MTDC

Millets: 2023 34