Millets: for

sustainable
Future and
Health
Introduction
• Millets were domesticated and cultivated as early
as 10,000 years ago in Northern China (Yang et
al, 2005). The millets cultivation is taken up
usually in degraded and marginal lands that
receive scanty rainfall and are poor in soil
nutrient content
• Overdependence on cereals after the green
revolution and the present-day sedentary lifestyle
of people has proliferated health related disorders
like obesity, diabetes, coronary diseases,
gastrointestinal disorders and risk of cancer too
The only way to sail through is through the
introduction of nutritionally rich millets in our
daily diets.
What are Millets?
• Millet is a cereal grain that belongs to the Poaceae family,
commonly known as the grass family. Millet is a C4 plant,
which means that it has good water-use efficiency and
utilizes high temperature and is therefore a summer
crop.
• It is widely consumed in developing countries throughout
Africa and Asia.
Millets :the smart food
• Being good sources of proteins, carbohydrates, dietary
fibre and essential amino acids, millets are considered to
be superfoods or smartfoods.
• Millets have 65% carbohydrates, 9% proteins, 3% fat, and
2-7% crude fibre.
• They are rich in various vitamins such as vitamin A, C and
B-complex vitamins and minerals such as magnesium,
manganese, phosphorus and also iron.
Types of Millets
 Advantages of millet production
• Millets have often been called the coarse grains, however, because of
their nutritional contributions they are now being referred to as 'nutri-
cereals'.
• Some of the advantages are listed in the next slide.
1. Millets, known as “miracle grains” or “crops
of the future,” are drought-resistant and
require minimal external inputs, making
them sustainable crops.

2. They serve as dual-purpose crops for food

and fodder, providing food security and
livelihood to millions.

3. As C4 crops, millets absorb more CO₂,

helping mitigate climate change, unlike
wheat and rice, which contribute to methane
emissions.
4. Millets mature quickly (45-70 days)
compared to rice (120-140 days) and are ideal as
climate-resilient crops during natural
calamities.
5. Resistant to pests and easy to store,
millets require no chemical fertilizers.
6. Rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants,
vitamins, and minerals, they are nutritionally
superior to wheat and rice, aiding digestion and
supporting a healthy gut.
7. High in polyunsaturated and omega-3 fatty
acids, they help lower cholesterol.
8. Millets aid in weight management, reduce
the risk of hypertension and cancers, and
are gluten-free, making them suitable for those
with diabetes and celiac disorders.
However, millets do contain some anti-
nutritional factors which can be reduced by
certain processing treatments
Millets for a healthy lifestyle
Millets are packed with health benefits that can transform your lifestyle. Some of
which includes:
1. Gluten-free
2. Detoxify body
3. Help lower cholesterol
4. Prevents breast cancer and many other diseases
5. Prevent type 2 diabetes
6. Reduce blood pressure
7. Protection against heart diseases
8. Helps in treating respiratory conditions like asthma
9. Optimize kidney, liver and immune system health
10. Reduces risk of gastrointestinal conditions
 Why Millets for Sustainable
future ?
A sustainable future is one in which
Because they are multipurpose: society meets its current needs
without compromising the ability of
• They consume 70% less water thanfuture
rice generations to meet their own.
• Grow in half the time of wheat It involves creating systems, lifestyles,
and economies that are
environmentally responsible, socially
• Require 40% less energy in processing
equitable, and economically viable
• Being rain-fed crops, use minimal amount
over the of fertilisers
long term

• Do not require pesticides as they are less vulnerable to insect attack

• Seeds of millet can be stored for years making it advantageous in drought
prone areas
Millets are one-stop solution in
the wake of climate change,
water scarcity, and drought
conditions along with high
nutritive value to provide
sustainable food security.
There is ample evidence on
nutritive value of millets
being a good source of
energy, carbohydrates, fats,
proteins, soluble and
insoluble fiber, antioxidants,
iron, zinc, and vitamins and
can help eliminate
micronutrient deficiency for
India and other developing
nations.

ThePhoto by PhotoAuthor is licensed under CCYYSA. ThePhoto by PhotoAuthor is license

Challenges in Millet Cultivation
and Adoption
1. Consumer Preference: After the Green Revolution, rice and wheat
became dietary staples, leading to a decline in millet consumption and
demand.
2. Yield and Profitability: Millet yields are often lower than other major
crops, reducing their profitability for farmers.
3. Processing and Storage: Millets require special processing, and
infrastructure for storage is limited in many areas.
4. Awareness and Accessibility: Public awareness of millets' health and
environmental benefits is still low, limiting their integration into modern
diets.
5. Policy and Subsidies: Government policies often favor major cereals
like rice and wheat, with fewer subsidies and support for millet farmers.
Creating Awareness
• In spite of acknowledging their significance as a super-food,
they possess long appreciated tag of “poor man‟s food grain”
due to its fine affordability.
• Therefore, it is necessary to rebrand and create awareness
among people that coarse cereals/millets as nutri-cereals and
promote their production and consumption
• For eg. United Nations(UN) made 2023 as the International
Year of Millets(idea was proposed by India)
• Showcases local Heritage
• Promotes Sustainability
• Addresses global health
• Leads by Example
Conclusion
• Millets contribute to addressing some of the largest global
issues in unison such as poor diet (malnutrition to obesity),
environmental issues (climate change, water scarcity and
environmental degradation), and rural poverty.
• They have a low carbon footprint and have the ability to
survive and grow in warm climate with very little water.
• They are climate-smart and hence constitute a good risk
management strategy for farmers as compared to rice and
wheat crops, which require higher quantities of water and
fertilisers supplements.
Thank you
Shaik Abrarul Wohab (Class XI)
PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya
Vayusena Nagar Nagpur440007