Millet Production in India – Types and Top Millet-Producing States

Table of Contents

• Millets in India
• Importance of Millets
• List of Millets in India
  • Bajra
  • Jowar
  • Ragi
  • Kodo Millet
  • Barnyard Millet
  • Foxtail Millet
  • Proso Millet
  • Little Millet
  • Browntop Millet
• Millets Producing States in India
• Millet as a Key to Ensuring Food Security in India

Millets in India

India has a long history of millet cultivation, and the famous Yajurveda text mentions millet. In fact, millet in India was the first crop to be domesticated as a food crop. Today, millet is grown in 130 countries worldwide, and India, with more than 40% of the market, is the largest producer. India is also among the top five exporters of millet globally.

The word 'Millet' traces its origin to the Latin word' milum,' which means grain. Millets are a group of Coarse cereals belonging to the Poaceae family. These small seed grasses are popular as a 'poor man's crop'.

Today, millets are called 'nutri-cereals', 'super foods', and 'future crops' because they are nutritiously rich, drought resistant, and low in glycemic index.

Importance of Millets for Farmers in India

Millets offer numerous ecological and economic benefits. They help improve the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers practising dryland farming in arid and semi-arid regions of the country. Some of the importance of it to farmers are:

• They have a short cropping season of 75 – 120 days.
• They can easily grow in low fertile soil and shallow terrains.
• They are highly adaptable to extreme temperatures and deficient rainfall.
• They are drought-tolerant ,pest and disease-resistant.
• They are economical to grow as they require minimal fertilisers and pesticides.
• They require less investment, minimal storage conditions, and have prolonged shelf life.
• By offering multiple harvests in a year, they provide sustainable livelihood and assured income.

Besides, millets also provide numerous health benefits to consumers as they are rich in antioxidants and micronutrients. Some health benefits include aiding in weight loss, boosting immunity, helping in diabetes management, and improving digestion, among others.

List of Millets in India

India, with its varied climate and soil, is ideal for cultivating different types of millet. These millet varieties differ in colour, appearance, texture, grain size and species. The cultivation of almost all millet varieties requires medium water, medium sunlight and a soil with pH value ranging from 4.5 - 8. Following are the major millets grown in India:

Bajra

Bajra is also known as pearl millet, and its scientific name is Pennisetum typhoids. It is the most cultivated millets in India. In 2022-23, it contributed 66% to the total millet production in India. Among the Top Bajra Producing States, Rajasthan is the leading producer of Bajra in India.

Jowar

Jowar is also known as Sorghum and its scientific name is Sorghum vulgare. Due to its whole-grain goodness and being gluten-free, it is worldwide known as the “new quinoa”.

It is the second most important millet grown in India. In 2022-23, its share in total millet production was 22%, and Maharashtra is the leading producer of Jowar in India. Other states where Jowar Farming is prevalent are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

Ragi

Ragi, also known as finger millet, is scientifically named Eleusine coracana. Ragi cultivation requires red loamy soil to sandy loamy soil.

In 2022-23, it contributed around 10% to the total millet production in India. Karnataka is the leading producer of Ragi in the country and India is the leading producer of ragi in the world.

Kodo Millets

The scientific name of Kodo millet is Paspalum scorbiculatum, and it is pinkish in colour. It grows mainly in the Deccan plateau regions of the country and extends to the foothills of the Himalayas.

The phosphorus content is lowest in Kodo millets compared to other millets. Further, it is rich in antioxidants.

Barnyard Millet

It is also called Sanwa or Jhangora, and its scientific name is Echinochloa esculenta. It is a short duration crop that can grow in challenging environmental conditions. It is valued for its high nutritional content and low cost of cultivation. It is rich in micronutrients like zinc and iron.

Foxtail Millet

It is also known as Kangani or Kakun, and its scientific name is Setaria italica. Foxtail millet has the highest protein among all the millet varieties. It is mainly grown in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamll Nadu, and Maharashtra.

Proso Millet

Proso Millet, also called Cheena, is a plant with the scientific name Panicum miliaceum. It is used for a variety of purposes such as human consumption, bird feed and ethanol production. It is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids.

Little Millet

Little Millet is also called Kutki, and its scientific name is Panicum miliare. This millet type is rich in nutreints like iron, calcium and fibre. It is a minor millet grown in regions with altitudes of 2100 m. It is a twin of proso millet, but its seeds are much smaller.

Browntop Millet

The scientific name of Browntop Millet is Urochloa ramosa, and its colour is greenish with brown at the top. It requires medium water to medium sunlight for its growth. A soil with a pH value of 5.5 – 8.0 is ideal for its cultivation.

Millets Producing States in India

According to the APEDA under Commerce Ministry, the total millet production in India in 2022-23 was 173.21 lakh tonnes and the area under millet cultivation was 126.98 lakh hectares. The yield per hectare in 2022-23 was 1364 kg/ha. Rajasthan is the largest millet-producing state in India, with a production of 56.74 lakh tonnes. See the table below to know the top millet producing states in India in 2022-23.

Rajasthan has the largest millet production and area under cultivation. However, in terms of productivity (yield kg per hectare), Andhra Pradesh is the number one state, followed by Gujarat and Haryana.

Millet as a Key to Ensuring Food Security in India

Due to numerous health and economic benefits, millets are now considered a key to ensuring food security in India. To tackle malnutrition in India and achieve the "zero hunger" goal by 2030 under the UN Sustainable Development Goal, the Indian government has prioritised millet production and its consumption. The initiatives include:

• Making the Indian population aware of the health benefits of millets under the UN International Year of Millets 2023.
• Rebranded millets from 'Coarse Cereals' to 'Nutri Cereals'.
• Declared 2018 as the National Year of Millets to promote the demand generation of millets.
• Promoting millet production as part of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).