Revitalizing the Potential of Minor Millets: Agrarian Constraints, Possible Solutions and Future Roadmap
Bodhisattya Pal *
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anasua Mukhopadhyay
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Aditi Kishore
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Arjun Kumar Agarwal
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Ranchi Agriculture College, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
Udit Debangshi
Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India.
Hem Prakash Verma
Department of Agricultural Extension, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
Gaurang Sunil Jathar
College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In contrary to the recent revival of millets like sorghum & pearl millet globally, one segment of millets is still neglected mostly in spite of their massive nutritional benefits and complementing effect on ecology; these are referred as minor millets collectively. The focal causes of its under recognition include lack of awareness among the consumers about its vast potential utilities and multifaceted constraints acting together to curb down its production pattern. Lack of effective research and development in the area of crop improvement via breeding and biotechnological interventions is holding back its upswing. There is very little comprehensive documentation available on these dynamics of minor millets. This paper studies those critical limiting factors while also prescribing the way out to ensure nutritional security and environmental sustainability.
Keywords: Small millets, proso millet, foxtail millet, kodo millet, barnyard millet, little millet, brown top millet, sustainability