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| Challenges faced by countries in Promotion and adaptation of Millets |
Millet is considered a superfood, although it has to overcome numerous challenges on its way from the farm to the table. Millet has a wide variety of nutrients and is environment friendly. Nevertheless, millets have struggled with agricultural restrictions, political negligence and market indifference.
In this blog post, we will discuss the challenges faced by various countries in adopting and promoting millets practices for a nutritious and healthier future.
Millet for gut health and digestion
Nowadays, millet has become known as a superfood and ‘shree anna’. Due to its remarkable nutritional profile and sustainability, millet has gained worldwide recognition and acceptance.
Millets include different varieties like Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Kutki, Kangni, Kodra and many more. Millets are not only rich in protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals but are also a gluten-free grain with a low glycemic index.
Due to its adaptability to harsh environmental conditions and low resource requirements, millets are the ideal choice to combat food security and malnutrition, especially in semi-arid regions.
Millets History
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| Millets History |
Millet is a very old grain whose cultivation began more than 5000 years ago. Millet is a very low-maintenance plant that grows with less water and also requires less fertiliser. Millet is a drought-tolerant plant that can grow in dry areas where other cereals do not thrive. Due to their low maintenance requirements, they are important for feeding people in poor countries, which is why millets are also referred to as a crop for poor people.
Millet production and consumption in India
About five decades ago, millets were one of the most important crops in India and many other countries. In India, after the green revolution, the share of millets has declined in favour of wheat, rice and processed foods. As a result of the expansion of land under wheat and rice production, the area under millets has declined.
What are the Problems/Challenges with millets:
Here we discuss challenges faced with millets promotion and adaptation one by one.
Section 1: Historical Context
Decline in millet cultivation over the years
Historically, millets were a significant part of the agricultural landscape, but after the green revolution that began in the 1960s, it had a significant impact on millet cultivation. In India, millet cultivation has declined from 35 million hectares to just 15 million hectares. The decline in millet cultivation in India can be attributed to various factors, primarily government policies that influenced the market in favour of rice and wheat.
Millet is must have superfood for females
Consumer preferences:
As part of the green revolution, the government encouraged the cultivation of high-yielding crops such as rice and wheat, supported by government policies such as minimum support prices, fertiliser subsidies and irrigation infrastructure. The shift in cultivation and consumer preferences has also increased global demand for rice and wheat, contributing to the decline in demand.
Section 2: Agricultural Challenges
Lower yields and profitability of millets compared to other crops
Compared to major crops such as rice and wheat, millet yields and profitability are lower, although it is nutritious and resilient. The reason for this is limited investment in research and development for millet-specific cultivation methods and consumer preference for common cereals.
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| Climate Resilience of Millets |
Lack of modern farming techniques specific to millet cultivation
Technical progress in millet cultivation has not been at the same level as other crops. There is a lack of modern cultivation techniques for millets, which reduces their productivity. Millets are known for their climate resistance.
Climate resilience of millets and the potential for sustainable agriculture
They can thrive under extreme weather conditions and in less fertile soils and require less water compared to other crops. These characteristics make millets a suitable crop for ensuring food security and tackling climate change. Millet requires fewer resources for cultivation, making sustainable agriculture possible.
Section 3: Economic and Policy Barriers
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| Millets require policy Reforms |
Limited government subsidies and support for millet farmers
The cultivation of millets may be less profitable and attractive for farmers, mainly because of lower government support compared to other staple crops such as rice and wheat. There is a lack of quality seed and other extension services.
Competition with subsidised staple crops like rice and wheat
Government policy favours wheat, and rice is at a distinct disadvantage in competition with millets. The government provides MSP for wheat and rice along with other government subsidies that can provide financial benefits to farmers so that farmers are more inclined to grow these crops that ensure them a stable income due to government support.
The need for policy intervention to promote millets in national diets
If the government wants to promote millets, then policy interventions are required where the government supports millets in the form of MSP (minimum support price) like other stable crops, availability of quality seeds, etc. Policy reforms may also include raising awareness about the health benefits of millets and encouraging people to include millets in their daily diet.
Section 4: Market and Supply Chain Hurdles
Absence of Production and Processing Integration:
There is no connection between the production of millets and their subsequent processing. This lack of integration can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs, as millets may not be processed in a way that aligns with production volumes or market demand.
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| Millets growth require efficient supply chain |
Challenges in Storage, Processing, and Distribution of Millets
Millet requires specific condition storage for preventing millet from spoilage and maintaining its quality. Millet processing also requires specialised equipment due to their size. Millet also requires an efficient distribution network, however it must reach consumers in a timely manner while retaining their nutritional value.
Developing Market Strategies for
Millet-Based Products
It is crucial to develop an effective market strategy in which identifying the target market, creating value-added products that can appeal to consumers. To make millet-based products more accessible, establish strong supply chains and partnership with farmers and retailers.
Section 5: Consumer Awareness and Perception
Less Awareness about the health benefits of millets
Millet has a broad nutritional profile that includes a high fibre content, amino acids and vitamins, but many people are still unaware of the nutritional benefits of millet. The lack of knowledge about millet also contributes to its lower consumption compared to popular cereals.
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| Less Awareness about Millet health benefits |
Millet health benefits for teenager girls
Perceived taste and cultural preferences for other grains
Dietary habits and taste preferences also have a major influence on our food choices. Millet is known as the ‘poor man’s food’ and is therefore less edible, leading to a preference for other grains in cultural cuisine.
Section 6:Strategies for promoting millet consumption through awareness campaigns
To combat these challenges, targeted awareness campaigns can be effective. These might include:
Educational Initiatives:
Informing the public about the health benefits of millets through workshops, seminars, and collaboration with health professionals.
Culinary Demonstrations:
Showcasing the versatility of millets in modern and traditional recipes to improve their appeal.
Marketing Efforts:
Positioning millets as a trendy and health-conscious choice in supermarkets and restaurants.
Policy Support:
Encouraging government policies that support millet agriculture and incorporating millets into public food programs.
Research and development in millets is very important to increase their productivity and profitability. The Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) focuses on basic and strategic research to increase the productivity of millets and their diversified utilisation. This includes genetic improvement of productivity, quality and stress tolerance.
Section 7:Research and Development
Need for research and development in millet varieties
Innovations in processing technologies are crucial to improve and maintain the nutritional quality of millet-based foods and make them healthier for consumers.
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| Research and development in Millets varieties |
Innovation in processing technologies for millet-based foods
Key processing technologies for millets include soaking, sprouting, malting, dehulling, flaking, fermentation, milling, roasting and microwave heating. These methods aim to increase the nutritional value of millets while reducing the nutrient-damaging factors.
Role of technology in transforming millet practices
Technology plays a transformative role in millets practice by increasing accessibility, raising awareness about the benefits of millets cultivation and creating market linkages.
Smart technology can support the millet revival in India by improving the accessibility and productivity of millet farmers. This includes building digital inclusion for local farmers and enhancing local farming knowledge and best practices.
Conclusion
In the end we conclude that making millets a part of our daily food and farming is important for our health, sustainability of our planet’s and for a healthy future. Everyone from government leaders to farmers and traders has to work together to overcome upcoming big challenges. Millets can help us to deal with big problems like climate change and feeding more people with less expenses. If we keep learning, inspiring and supporting correct policies, millets can make us healthier and our farms stronger for a long time. 🌾
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