Himanshu Tiwari

Promoting millets as climate-smart nutri-cereals can significantly address national concerns of malnutrition and income inequality in India, particularly in regions where these issues are prevalent. Millets, known for their nutritional richness and resilience to climate change, offer a pathway to improved food security and farmer livelihoods.

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Millet is a diverse group of small-seeded grasses, widely used as a grain for both human food and animal feed. It's a gluten-free grain, rich in nutrients and known for its adaptability to various climates and soil conditions.

Millet is a starch which requires to be consumed with other protein source and vegetables and fruits. While it can be a source of start, alone it will not solve malnutrition, it is a diet that consist of all nutrients that is essential to combat malnutrition.

Millets are superheroes. Promoting them as climate-smart nutri-cereals can really help with malnutrition and income gaps.

Addressing Malnutrition: Millets are highly nutritious, containing carbohydrates, fiber, and protein. They also provide essential minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, and iron, along with beneficial antioxidants and various B vitamins that can help battle most nutritional deficiencies making it a more varied and nutritious option to staple crops like rice and wheat.

Addressing Income Inequality: Millets are sustainable crops, requiring fewer resources and tolerating drought, poor soils, and pests. This makes them ideal for climate-smart farming and a sustainable solution to food insecurity. Promoting these crops can really help small-scale farmers make a good living and cut down on income gaps.

Climate-Smart Agriculture: Millets require less water and are more tolerant to drought and heat compared to other major cereals, making them a climate-resilient choice. This reduces the risk of crop failure for farmers, ensuring food security and economic stability in the face of climate change.

Diversification of Food Systems: Eating more millet can mix up our food options, so we don’t just rely on a few crops and can boost food variety and system resilience. This also generates new market opportunities for farmers and processors of millet.