Millets a Pathway to Nutrition Security for Sustainable Agriculture
Shanti Bhushan
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Veer Kunwar Singh College of Agriculture, Dumraaon-802136, India.
Kanchan Bhamini
Department of Horticulture (Fruit) Nalanda College of Horticulture, Noorsarai, Nalanda, (Bihar)- 803113, India.
Uday Kumar
Irrigation Research Station, Araria, Bihar, India (BAU, Sabour), India.
K Sudha Rani
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Reddipalli Anantapuram, Andhra Pradesh 515 701, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, India.
Sunil Kumar
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Veer Kunwar Singh College of Agriculture, Dumraaon-802136, India.
T. Sampathkumar
Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai – 625104, India.
Bhosle Saurabh Sushil
Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, 144411, Punjab, India.
Satish K. Sharma
RHRSS SKUAST Jammu, India.
S. Anbarasan *
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Chidambaram – 608002, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Millets, a group of small-seeded grasses, have been cultivated for thousands of years and are an integral part of traditional diets in many regions of the world. The nutritional value, resilience to harsh environmental conditions, and potential for sustainable agriculture, millets have been largely overlooked and underutilized in modern food systems, the nutritional benefits of millets, their role in ensuring food security, and strategies for promoting their cultivation and consumption. Millets are rich in essential nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and offer numerous health benefits, such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, millets are well-suited to climate-resilient agriculture, requiring less water and fertilizer than many other cereal crops. By promoting the cultivation and consumption of millet, policymakers, researchers, and agricultural stakeholders can enhance food security, support small-scale farmers, and promote sustainable food systems and the need for increased investment in millet research, the development of value chains, and consumer education to realize the full potential of millets in addressing global food security challenges.
Keywords: Millets, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience