Millet, one of the oldest foods known to humans is considered as the first cereal to be used for domestic purposes. Millets have been in use for more than thousand years in China, Egypt, India and Switzerland. Countries like India and Africa rely on the goodness of millet for their food needs. In fact, it is ranked as the sixth most important grain in the world. Millets have been used in different cultures in diverse ways. For instance it is used in the preparation of soup or it is used as a cereal. In India, it is mainly used to make whole grain bread known as chapati (roti).
One of the greatest advantages of millet is that it can be grown even in a poorly fertile and dry soil, so it can be grown in hot climates with less rainfall. It has an interesting nutty flavor and is loaded with nutrients and vitamins such as B vitamins. It contains phytochemicals and phytic acid which helps in lowering cholesterol and it also reduces the risk of developing cancer.
There are various species of millet. However, four types of millet are grown commercially worldwide. And they are:
- Pearl Millet (Bajra): This most widely grown crop of all millets happens to be a traditional crop in western Africa, Asia – particularly in India, Pakistan and along the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. One great advantage of this crop is that it can be grown in poor and sandy soils in dry areas that are considered unsuitable for maize, sorghum or finger millet. Pearl millet is a summer cereal grass with large stems, leaves and heads. It is popularly called as bulrush millet, babala, bajra, cumbu, dukhn, gero, sajje, sanio or souna.
- Finger Millet (Ragi): This millet is popularly known as Ragi in India and it is extensively used in Southern India. It is also a staple food in Eastern Africa and Asia. The plant has several spikes or fingers at the top of the stem.
- Foxtail Millet: Foxtail millet is an ancient millet which has got very well adapted to moderate climate. It is grown for both feed and food purposes. Just before the availability of Sorghum – Sudan grass forage hybrids, foxtail millet was a very important pasture species.
- Proso Millet: This millet which is generally found in temperate climates is grown in the Russian federation, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, United States, Argentina and Australia. This millet plant has an open branching and drooping panicles and it is tolerant to a wide range of temperature.
The millet crop is a huge benefit to all the countries because of its ability to grow in extreme climatic conditions, where other crops would not normally survive. Another added advantage is that they are insect resistant and immensely rich in nutrients. Moreover they are easy to digest as they do not form any acids while digesting. They are also considered as the most non–allergenic crops and the most digestible ones. Since they are highly nutritious, healthy and versatile grains, anyone would get greatly benefited by adding millets to their regular diet.
