Role of small millet crops in food security of western Satpura in Nandurbar District (MS), India

Abstract

Small millets are nutri cereals comprising of foxtail, prosoand barnyard millet. These are one of the oldest foods known to humanity. These are one of the several species of coarse cereal grasses in the family of Poaceae, cultivated for their small edible seeds. The term millet includes many small-grain cereals. Grain-based on size, millet is classified as the major and minor grain millet. In the study area cultivated proso millet (Mor), Foxtail millet (padi and rala) and Barnyard millet (banti), etc small millets. These crops occupied 31.35 percent of the total cultivated area and are mostly grown on thehill slope. Small millets cultivated during the rainy season and also unmanured and unfertilized conditions. Small millets are highly nutritious and are better in protein, oil, mineral, calcium content than rice and wheat. These small millets are usually cooked as rice after dehulling in the study area. Small millets are used as a substitute for rice flour in various snack foods. They were primarily stored in larger quantities in Kothi for up to fifteen years for food security and used as animal feed. Regular consumption of small millets reduces lifestyle (diabetes), cardiovascular, gastrointestinal diseases