India is the number one producer and consumer of millets in the world today. However, millets are set to go global, and many small farmers and gardeners can benefit from its resilience in the fields. United Nations declared 2023 as “The International Year of Millet”.
Little Millet is a fast growing, cereal grain which can withstand both drought and water logging. Also known as Pancium Sumatrense, little millet is native to India and mainly cultivated in Asia and Africa. It gained popularity in the West because it is gluten free and boasts high protein, fiber, and antioxidant contents. The two main types of little millet – nana, which matures earlier, and robusta which tends to produce better yields.
Usefulness
As a multipurpose crop, the grains of little millets are used as both nutritious food and forage for livestock. This crop is resourceful as biofuel, sequesters carbon and assures food and nutritional security to smallholders in drylands.
Besides their nutritional value, millets are known for their enhanced dietary benefits. They are a rich source of B-vitamins, minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, and potassium. Little millet can be a nutritious supplement and alternative to other grains especially in cereal-based diets. Any recipe that demands rice, can be prepared using little millet. Compared to other types of millets, little millet has the smallest grains which cooks faster.
Researchers say that small millets contribute to food security in various ways and provide better economic returns and withstand climate change, pests, and diseases better. In addition, millets release a smaller amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during the cultivation process, in comparison to other grains such as rice and wheat. This helps reduce the global dependency on rice and wheat as a staple food, while contributing to diversity in food.
How to Grow
Little millet grows well under low-input agriculture. It can be grown on a wide range of soil including waterlogged soils, however for satisfactory growth, deep, loamy fertile soils rich in fertilizer are preferred. It is highly tolerant to moisture stress but cannot withstand colder temperatures below 10°C. Growing little millet is restricted to hilly regions up to an altitude of 2000m.
The seed should be planted 3-4cm in depth, 8-10cm apart and between rows 25-30cm apart. After 65 – 75 days since sowing, the crop is ready for harvest.
Additional Millet Resources
https://phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-millet.html
https://researchmatters.in/news/small-millets-can-help-fight-food-insecurity-during-pandemics