Question

Name the cereals included in the category of millets.

Answer 1

Hint: Millet is a cereal grain that belongs to the Poaceae family and is widely consumed in developing countries like Africa and Asia. India is the largest producer of different varieties of millets.

Complete Answer:
Millets are one of the oldest foods which thrive well in dry zones or rain-fed areas and can be nurtured in low-fertile land and mountainous regions. The easy storage of millets under normal conditions has given them the status of Famine Reserves. This characteristic is of enormous significance for India, as the agriculture of our country suffers from unforeseen changes in monsoon.

The most important types of cereals , under the category of millets which are cultivated in India are; Jowar (sorghum), Bajra (pearl millet), ragi (finger millet). Other varieties include, Jhangora (barnyard millet), Barri (proso or common millet), Kangni (foxtail millet), kodra (Kodo millet) etc.
1. Jowar: It is the most vital food and fodder crop of dry land agriculture. This crop is perennial in nature and the fifth most valuable cereal crop in the world after wheat, rice, maize and barley. This crop can be grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons.

2. Bajra Bajra or “pearl millet” originated from India or Africa and considered to be the poor man’s basic nutrition and suitable to nurture in drylands. In North India, bajra is grown as Kharif crop and in some southern parts it is grown as summer crop.

3. Ragi: Ragi is a very nutritious millet which is rich in protein, calcium, fibre and iron, and has been used across the world in various food products. Realising its health advantages, nowadays people have begun mixing ragi with other grains like rice and wheat for preparing traditional dishes like idli, upma and rotis.

Note: Millet has gained popularity in the West because it’s gluten-free, high in protein, fiber, and antioxidant contents. The Government of India has declared 2018 as the National Year of Millets to improve production of the nutrient-rich killers. This will help in the growth of millet output and consumption in the country. The increased production of Millets will help combat against starvation and mitigate climate change effects in the long run.