What are millets Millets are a group of small seeded grasses belonging to the family poaceae. They are categorized into major and minor or small millets based on the area occupied for cultivation. Sorghum, bajra, ragi are the three major millets and Foxtail, Barnyard, Kodo, Proso and Little are the five minor millets Importance of millets Millets (Sorghum, bajra and small millets) are important food and the fodder crops in semi-arid regions which are gaining importance in countries facing climatic uncertainties, increasing population and malnutrition.These crops are store houses of nutrients and are adapted to wide range of temperatures,moisture-regimes and input conditions. They provide food, feed and fodder to millions of dryland farmers, particularly in developing countries in addition to being the raw material for alcohol and starch production.These crops are primarily grown in agro ecologies subjected to low rainfall and drought. Most such areas are unsuitable for the production of other grains unless irrigation is available. Following is the general information on major and minor millets and their nutritional composition. Nutritive value of millets Nutritive value of millets (per 100g) Crop / Nutrient Protein (g) Fat (g) Fibre (g) Minerals (g) Iron (mg) Calcium (mg) Phosphorus (mg) Rice 6.4 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.0 9.0 143 Wheat 11.8 1.5 1.2 1.5 5.3 41 306 Sorghum 10.4 1.9 1.6 1.6 4.1 25 222 Bajra 11.6 5.0 1.2 2.3 8.0 42 296 Finger millet 7.3 1.3 3.6 2.7 3.9 344 283 Foxtail millet 12.3 4.3 8.0 3.3 2.8 31 290 Proso millet 12.5 1.1 2.2 1.9 0.8 14 206 Kodo millet 8.3 1.4 9.0 2.6 0.5 27 188 Little millet 7.7 4.7 7.6 1.5 9.3 17 220 Barnyard millet 6.2 2.2 9.8 4.4 5.0 20 280 General information on Millets Sorghum Pearl millet Finger millet Foxtail millet Scientific name Sorghum bicolor Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Eleusine coracana (L.) Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. Common name Sorghum Pearl millet Finger millet Italian millet and setaria Family Poaceae Poaceae Poaceae Poaceae Vernacular name Jwari, Juara, Jowar, Cholam, Jonna,Jola Bajri, Bajra, Sajjalu, Kambu,sajje Marwa, Nagli, Keppai,Ragulu,Ragi Mandia, Mandhuka Korralu, Kaon Kang Kakum Navane Tenai Kangni Origin northeastern Africa Sahelian Africa East Africa (Ethiopia) Central Asia(China) Ploidy Diploid (2n = 20) Diploid (2n = 14) Allopolyploid, 2n = 4x = 36 Diploid,2n=18 Genome size ~ 700Mbp ~1.79Gb 1,593 Mb ∼490 Mb Season Kharif and Rabi kharif (June–September), summer (February–May), Rabi (November–February) Kharif and Rabi Kharif Major states Maharashtra Karnataka Madhya Pradesh Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, West Bengal and Bihar. A.P., Karnataka, Rajastan, M.P., Chattisgarh Uses Food (unleavened bread, Sankati, thin porridge, Pops, Atta, flaking and Biscuits), Feed (Poultry), Fodder, Biofuel food (leavened and unleavened flat breads and porridges), feed and fodder (dry and green) roti (unleavened flat breads), kazhi (finger millet balls), and kanji (thin porridge) Cooked rice, Kheer, Mudde, Roti, Thin Porridge, Dosa, ,Sattu,Halwa Kodo millet Barnyard millet Proso millet Little millet Scientific name Paspalum Scrobiculatum Echinochloa frumentacea Panicum miliaceum L Panicum sumatrense Roth Common name Kodo millet Indian Barnyard millet Common millet Little millet Family Poaceae Poaceae Poaceae Poaceae Vernacular name Kodo, Kodra, Kodon Arikelu, Varagu,Harka Udalu ,Kuthiraivolly, Sanwa Khira, Shyama, Oodalu Varigalu, Chena Baragu, Pani, varagu, Baragu, Vari Samalu, Samai, Kutki, Sava Same, Gajro Origin India India Central Asia-India India Ploidy Tetraploid,2n=4x=40 Hexapoid,2n=6x=54 2n=4x=36 2n=4x=36 Genome size Not available Not Available Not Available Season Kharif Kharif and Rabi Kharif ((onset of monsoon), summer) Kharif and Rabi Major states M.P., Chattisgarh, T.N., & Maharashtra Karnataka, M.P.,Uttarakhand,U.P.,North East Bihar, North East, Maharashtra Karnataka, T.N., A.P., M.P.,Jharkhand, Orissa Maharashtra & Chattisgarh Uses Cooked rice Cooked rice ,Kheer, Roti, Thin Porridge, Halwa Cooked rice, Kheer, Roti, Thin Porridge, Sattu, Halwa Cooked rice, Kheer, Thin Porridge, Dosa, ,Sattu , Halwa Authors Deepika Cheruku, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad-500030 Swarna Ronanki, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad-500030 Jinu Jacob, Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad-500030 Gayatri Bandaru, Indian Institute of oil Seed Research, Hyderabad-500030 References Karuppasamy, P. (2015). Overview on Millets. Trends in Biosciences, 8(13), 3269-3273. Malathi D, Varadharaju N, Gurumeenakshi G.(2014) T. Study on nutrient composition of millets and ways to minimize loss during Processing and value addition. Project completion report Submitted to Agricultural Policy Planning, State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu. Patil J V, Vilas A Tonapi, and B Dayakar Rao.(2015).Millets improvement and utilization: progress and prospects; In Vilas A Tonapi, B Dayakar Rao,J V Patil Millets-promotion for Food, Feed, Fodder, Nutrient and Environmental Security. Society of Millets Research, 11-127, ICAR-Indian Institute of Milles Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030, India.pp.1-33. Seetharam A. (2011) Small millets as viable crops- recent. Developments, challenges and research gaps. Emeritus Scientist, Ex Project Project Coordinator (Small Millets), ICAR. http://millets.res.in/millets_info.php