Millet: A Forgotten Superfood in Need of a Revived Value Chain
By Pritam Kumar Sinha, Fellow in Public Health, Gandhian Philosophy, National Institute of Naturopathy, Ministry of Ayush, GoI
Date: June 15th, 2023
"In an era where sustainability and nutrition are at the forefront of our concerns, millet stands out as a solution that addresses both. It is time we harness the power of collective action through FPOs, SHGs, and cooperatives, empowering our producers with the right tools and knowledge. We need to usher in a new age of agriculture where millet is not just seen as a crop, but a bridge to a healthier populace and a more resilient environment."
Once a staple food for many Indian communities, millet has seen a serious decline since the onset of the Green Revolution in the 1960s. Formerly accounting for 25% of staple food supply in India, millet now represents less than 6% of total cereal intake. This is due to both policy changes favouring rice and wheat and a consumer bias designating millet as an inferior cereal.
When diving deeper into the characteristics of millet, two major factors contribute to the resurgence of interest in this traditional grain. Firstly, its nutritional profile makes it a remarkable superfood. Secondly, its hardy nature allows it to thrive in varied and often challenging conditions. These features are, however, juxtaposed against the reality that millet's production and distribution chains are currently in a state of disrepair. This stark contrast makes it all the more crucial to revamp and streamline these systems for the grain to truly regain its place in the culinary landscape.
Millet is a nutritional powerhouse packed with essential vitamins and minerals. It has been proven to aid in reducing several health risks such as iron deficiency anaemia, type II diabetes, obesity, and calcium deficiency. Furthermore, the iron content in millet, particularly in varieties like bajra, far exceeds that found in rice, making it a viable solution to combat widespread anaemia in countries like India.
In addition to its nutritional prowess, millet is highly adaptable and environmentally friendly. It requires minimal water and can withstand harsh climates and various environmental stresses. This makes it an ideal crop in regions grappling with water scarcity and the effects of climate change.
Despite these inherent advantages, the production and distribution mechanisms of millet require significant improvements. Currently, these systems are not equipped to handle the potential surge in demand. A thorough overhaul of these mechanisms, right from the cultivation practices to the processing techniques and the final distribution methods, is crucial.
The revival of millet not only rests on the rediscovery of its health benefits but also requires the establishment of robust, efficient, and sustainable production and distribution chains. These are necessary steps to ensure that millet, once a staple in many communities, regains its rightful place in our diets.
The Healthful Grain
Millet is nutrient-dense and has been proven to help reduce iron deficiency anaemia, risk of type II diabetes, BMI and obesity, calcium deficiency, and hyperlipidemia. The iron content per 100 grams of grains in bajra, a type of millet, is 6.42 mg, nearly ten times higher than that of rice.
Considering the high prevalence of anaemia in India, affecting 52% of pregnant women and 67% of children under five, a dietary modification incorporating millet could offer a practical solution. By substituting rice or wheat with millet, a significant reduction in anaemia cases might be achievable given millet’s higher iron content.
Moreover, minor millets provide even richer nutritional value, bolstering the argument that the wider adoption of millets could play a pivotal role in addressing malnutrition. This insight underscores the potential impact of millets in enhancing India's nutrition profile and invites a more concerted effort towards promoting these grains.
Adaptable and Environmentally Friendly
The merits of millet aren't confined to human well-being alone; they also contribute significantly to environmental sustainability. As crops, millets are extraordinarily water-efficient, needing far less water than other staple grains. They're resilient, with an innate ability to endure harsh conditions and withstand a multitude of environmental stressors including elevated temperatures and periods of drought.
This ecological robustness positions millets as potentially crucial crops in an era increasingly defined by climate change and water scarcity. This points to the importance of re-evaluating and reintegrating millets into our agricultural systems and food supply chains for the sake of our planet's health and resilience.
The reestablishment of millet within the nation’s food chain promises a twofold benefit. On one hand, it would add variety to the largely rice and wheat dominated dietary regimen, thereby enhancing public health due to millet’s impressive nutritional profile. On the other, the cultivation of millet, given its minimal demand on water and resilience to tough environmental conditions, aligns with the principles of sustainable agriculture, thus promoting the judicious use of natural resources. Hence, fostering millet production and consumption could prove to be a significant stride towards nutritional wellness and environmental sustainability.
The Policy-Production Disconnect
While the Government of India has made attempts to promote millets, declaring them as Nutri Cereals in 2018 and designating 2023 as the International Year of Millet, these initiatives have not translated into increased production.
The increasing understanding of millet’s nutritional benefits, despite the absence of a proportional rise in its production, has inadvertently displaced the grain from the diets of the less affluent towards those of middle and high-income households. This demographic shift in consumption, coupled with the stagnant production, has ironically contributed to a continued decrease in the country’s average millet intake. Therefore, while more privileged groups have incorporated millet into their meals, the broader population’s access to this nutrient-dense grain is regrettably dwindling.
A Comprehensive Approach is Needed
In order to turn this trend around, the Niti Aayog advocates for a comprehensive strategy. This involves amplifying the acreage dedicated to millet farming and boosting productivity by making millet cultivation more appealing to farmers. By instilling an attractive proposition in the cultivation of this crop, it is hoped that the volume of millet produced can meet the increasing demand and benefit all socio-economic groups.
The budget presented on February 1, 2023, signifies a serious attempt to mainstream millets, both in terms of consumption and production, by designating them as "Shree Anna".
The Road Ahead: Investment in R&D
There is an urgent call to establish a dedicated Centre of Excellence for millets research and development. This is of significant importance because, unlike rice and wheat that often involve the use of numerous harmful preservatives, millets require a different approach. There is a crucial need to investigate the use of natural preservatives to extend the shelf life of millets. This move towards a more organic and sustainable approach in preserving millets could not only contribute to improved consumer health, but also push the envelope in our understanding and application of natural preservation methods.
With around 40% of millets produced in India and 44% in Africa, a continent with limited agricultural R&D capacity, India needs to lead the effort.
Rebuilding the Millet Value Chain
The intricacies involved in millet processing, from harvesting to ready-to-use grains, are far from simple, and thus warrant the development of millet-dedicated machinery and equipment. This technology is needed to manage large-scale production efficiently and streamline the processing stages, thus, saving time and reducing losses.
Simultaneously, there is a need to empower producers by leveraging Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and cooperatives. These structures offer a platform for collective action, fostering unity, and strengthening bargaining power, which can be beneficial for millet producers. With the consumers' increasing preference for millets and their readiness to pay higher prices for these nutritious grains, producers should be empowered to tap into this expanding market. Together, these approaches can help to elevate the millet value chain, benefiting both producers and consumers alike, while contributing to sustainable agriculture.
To truly revitalize this superfood, we need to invest in developing millet value chains with active participation of millet producers. These value chains would help in bridging the gap between the increasing demand and the limited supply of millets, benefiting both producers and consumers alike.
This value chain could include various stakeholders - farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers - each with a crucial role to play. The primary goal would be to enhance production, processing, and marketing of millets, ensuring better returns for the farmers while making this nutritious grain accessible to all.
India is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in millet production and research. While the existing efforts and policies form a solid foundation, a more concerted effort is required. It is necessary to align policies with practice, augment R&D capabilities, improve farming practices, and develop more efficient processing techniques.
As India and the world grapple with the twin challenges of nutrition security and climate change, millets can offer a solution. They are not just nutrient-rich, but also draught resistant climate-smart crops. Their potential to thrive under harsh conditions with minimal resources and negligible irrigation requirements make them a promising crop for the future.
Revitalizing millets will be a win-win for all – it would improve the nutrition security of India, provide better income to farmers, and make agriculture more sustainable. The superfood that once nourished our ancestors could well hold the key to a healthier, sustainable future.
The road to making millets mainstream might be challenging, but with a concerted effort from the government, farmers, researchers, and consumers, it is a feat that can be achieved. The future of millets is promising and is worth the effort and investment. This journey from farm to fork will bring us back to our roots, ensuring health, prosperity and sustainability.
