Page 87 - Millets Natures NutriGrain

Indian Millets Production Scenario:

Millet production has not changed and remained stable over the
past few years, with a production of 28 million metric tons in 2020.
Africa and Asia are the two regions that generate the most millet.
China, Niger, and India are the top three millet-producing countries
in the world. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal are a few larger millet-
producing nations. Although millet is not a commonly eaten crop
in developed nations, it is a crucial component of many people’s
meals there. Where other crops could fail in dry, arid settings, millet
flourishes under these circumstances. Additionally, it is a nutritious
grain that is rich in fibre as well as essential nutrients. These factors
will ensure that millet continues a significant food crop in the years
to come. India has recently experienced a rise in millet output. Indian
farmers are increasingly growing millet as a crop that can withstand
droughts. The National Food Security Mission of the Indian
government includes the promotion of millet cultivation. These
elements will likely cause millet production in India to increase
throughout the upcoming years.
Why millets have disappeared from the Indian kitchens?

Indians changed their eating habits to conform to western tastes,
much like they did with many other habits. Indigenous cuisine was
quickly abandoned. Millets were finally abandoned because they
were regarded as inferior options to rice or wheat. More than rice
output, millet accounted up 40% of all produced grains before the
Green Revolution. In India, millet has been traditionally consumed
as a staple food by many communities, particularly in the southern
and western parts of the country. Millets were an important crop in
the Vedic period, and references to various types of millets can be
found in ancient Indian texts such as the Rigveda and Atharvaveda.

Millets were widely cultivated in India until the Green Revolution
of the 1960s, which led to a shift towards high-yielding varieties
of rice and wheat. This shift led to a decline in the cultivation of
millets, which were seen as less profitable and less attractive than
rice and wheat. In recent years, however, there has been a renewed
interest in millets due to their nutritional benefits and their potential

87 Millets: 2023