Millet Based Food Delicacies for Younger Generation

Millets are a group of cereal crops that are high in nutritious value and help us to lead the healthier life.

- Sujitha P, T.Uma Maheswari, S. Geethanjali, L. Karpagapandi & K.Kumutha

Introduction

Millets are the ancient grains which can be cultivable in India, Nigerian and other Asian and African countries. By eating these healthier grain foods our ancestors lead the healthy life without any serious health issues. Millets are rich in minerals especially iron, calcium and magnesium. It is popularly known as ‘Food grains of the poor or Poor man’s crop’ because these crops did not require adequate water and can be grown in semi-arid regions. But in modern world, most people consider millet grains are the food for poor people. They moved towards the fast foods and hence these millet foods are vanished from our plates. But there is a sudden global fame for these grains due to negative impacts of climate change, hence, millets are gaining attention as “Future crops” said by the Director General of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

Due to sudden climatic change and micronutrient deficiency, to create awareness among the future generation about the importance of millet foods worldwide, India submitted a proposal on millets to FAO. It got approved with the support of 71 countries and they declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Through IYM 2023, many millet-based food products are well known among the people and it becomes most preferable due to value addition. The health and taste of millet products have now started to replace staple foods from our plates.

Types of millets