Strengthening millet promotion: A path for addressing malnutrition and fostering sustainable food system

Dear Editor,

We read the article by Saboo[1] with great interest where the authors have described how the ideal recommendation of 55-60% of energy from carbohydrates should be focussed on unpolished cereals, millets, etc., which are complex nutrient-dense carbohydrate sources.

The year 2023 was declared the International Year of Millets by the United Nations General Assembly at its 75^th session in March 2021.[2] India is the largest producer of millets globally, with 40.5% of the total capacity of the world’s production[3] and has an extremely definitive and responsible role to play in promoting how millets are perceived and accepted in this rapidly evolving dietary world.

Millets, a group of small-seeded grasses, have gained recognition for their significant public health implications. There are broadly two varieties of millets grown in India, quite unimaginatively named ‘Major’ (like Sorghum, Pearl millet and Finger millet) and Minor (like Foxtail millet, little millet, Kodo, Proso, and Barnyard).

There are quite a few advantages to millets being grown.

First and foremost, they are a nutrient powerhouse, and by nutritional parameters, they are way ahead of rice and wheat. Some millet varieties have 50 times more fibre than rice. Finger millet, for example, has 30 times more calcium, while the iron content of foxtail and little millet is more than rice.[4] Their nutrient-rich composition makes them a valuable addition to a balanced and nutritious diet, thereby enhancing dietary diversity, improving food security, and helping address malnutrition.

Second, they are astonishingly low water-consuming crops, which is a huge plus in a water-scarce nation such as ours. According to the Krishi Maharashtra official brochure ‘Millets: Future of Food and Farming’, the rainfall needed for sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet is less than 25% of sugarcane and banana and 30% that of rice. While 4000 litres of water is needed to grow 1 kg of rice, all millets are grown without dedicated irrigation.[4]

Third, it can be argued that millets are perhaps one of the few climate-change-friendly crops. Their ability to withstand draught-like conditions and higher temperature zones makes them a perfect answer to the climate change crisis that the world faces.

There are, however, a few challenging scenarios that remain to be tackled.

The total area under millet cultivation in India has reduced from 35 million hectares to 15 million hectares and there are very practical reasons for this decrease.[4]

There is generally a higher market cost of millets compared to its ‘competitors’ − rice and wheat. This makes it unfeasible for a good amount of the population in India who are extremely price-conscious.[5] There is also a lack of awareness among the population regarding the various nutritional advantages that millets contain compared to the normal diet consumed. A good amount of the population also perceives millets to be inferior in taste compared to other alternatives.[6]

There is thus a definitive need to face these challenges head-on, and despite the government showing appreciative steps in that direction, some more efforts still need to be undertaken.

The millets should be integrated into the public delivery system (PDS). The PDS has shown its efficacy recently during the COVID-19 epidemic where it helped 80 crore beneficiaries tide over the lockdown hardships.[7] Adding millets to the PDS would enable access to a huge chunk of the population at their convenience.

Millets can also be better integrated into the ICDS, mid-day meal scheme. The mid-day meal scheme takes care of the dietary requirements of a huge number of school-going children in the crucial growing age.[8] Overhauling the menu and introducing millets in an innovative and practical method cannot just increase awareness but also take care of the growing children’s nutritive needs. The Farmers can also be incentivised for the cultivation of millet farms. Cheap finance options and loans can be provided to millet cultivators to increase the yields. While the price support scheme (PSS) does help the millet farmers, better financing options can still work wonders among the farmers for millet cultivation. Research initiatives into millet production, nutritive values, and taste can be undertaken too which can be beneficial in increasing its broad appeal.

One major factor clipping the accessibility wings is the limited options in online e-commerce websites. A random stray search of the major shopping sites shows extremely limited millet options while there are quite a few amongst its ‘competitors’ like rice and wheat. Policies should be framed to alleviate this issue and give interested customers a value proposition. While steps in the right direction have been taken, with 250 start-ups being supported under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, further action is needed to see solid results.[9]

Finally, a nationwide programme to increase awareness about the advantages of millets could also be started. In April 2018, the government rebranded millets as nutri-cereals and these miracle crops can definitely reach their full potential with the necessary push they deserve.[10]

To summarise, millets are traditional and culturally significant crops in many regions, contributing to the preservation of agricultural biodiversity. Their reintroduction into modern diets helps sustain traditional farming practices and agricultural biodiversity.

The public health significance of millets lies in their nutritional richness, suitability for diverse diets, and their contribution to sustainable and resilient agriculture.

Integrating millets into mainstream diets can play a crucial role in addressing public health challenges related to malnutrition, chronic diseases, and sustainable food systems.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.