Millets are a group of highly variable small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for human food and as fodder. Two major millet crops currently growing in India are Bajra (pearl millet) Jowar (sorghum), Other indigenous varieties of “small millets” like Ragi (Finger millet). Sanwa (Barnyard Millet) Proso millet ( Cheena) Kangni (Foxtail Millet) why to grow millets Low input cost: These are good for the soil, have shorter cultivation cycles and require less cost-intensive cultivation. Climate resilience: These unique features make millets suited for and resilient to India’s varied agro-climatic conditions. Drought tolerance: Millets are not water or input-intensive, making them a sustainable strategy for addressing climate change and building resilient agri-food systems. The following attributes are aptly applied to millets. a. Good for the consumer: they can help overcome some of the biggest nutritional and health problems (iron, zinc, folic acid, calcium, diabetes); b. Good for the planet: they have a low water footprint, are able to survive in the hottest driest climates and will be important in coping with climate change) c. Good for the farmer: can increase yields up to 3 fold, have multiple uses (food, fodder, fuel), and are typically the last crop standing in times of drought being a good risk management strategy for farmers. “Millets are beneficial for the farmers and especially the small and marginal farmers” Millet crops do not require much water and get matured in a very short period Superfood: Millets contain plenty of protein, fiber, and minerals Along with reducing obesity, they also reduce the risk of iabetes, hypertension, and heart-related diseases Millets are also very beneficial in fighting malnutrition since they are packed with energy as well as protein.” 2023, has been declared by the United Nations as International Year of Millets. This message has reached millions of people and created mass awareness of the importance of millet. What can be done to promote millets as nutri-cereals?कदन्न को पोषक अनाज के रूप में बढ़ावा देने के लिए क्या किया जा सकता है? Rebranding the cereals as nutri-cereals 2) Incentive through hiking MSP 3) Providing steady markets through inclusion in PDS 4) Increasing area, production and yield 5) Intersection of agriculture and nutrition 1) setting up nutri-gardens, 2) promoting research on the inter linkages between crop diversity and dietary diversity 3) running a behaviour change campaign to generate consumer demand for nutri-cereals. Constraints and Remedies बाध्यताएं तथा उपाये  Availability of improved and high yielding varieties of small millets Improvement in dehulling efficiency and separation. Improvement of shelf life of the millet-based product. Innovative millet-based products- Innovative packaging. Govt. Policies Deficit mind-set: Till recent past, policies were based on the mind-set of the 19

1. Major and minor millets: Importance,
present status and scope in J&K
Dr. Subhash C Kashyap
Scientist (PBG)
Div. of Plant Breeding and Genetics
FoA Main Campus SKUAST-J, Chatha-
180009
sck2412@gmail.com
प्रमुख और लघु कदन्न: महत्व और जम्मू-कश्मीर म� वतर्मान िस्थ�त

2. Millets were the oldest foods known to humans
The mention of millets in Indian Sanskrit text Yajurveda’s
verses- of Foxtail millet (priyangava), Proso millet (aanava)
and Barnyard millet (shyaamaka),
indicated that millets culture and consumption was very
common, dating to the Indian Bronze Age (1,500BC).
Kautilya’s Arthashastra says…..
Kodrava (kodo millet), … and priyangu (foxtail millet) will
increase three times the original quantity when cooked; …
Grains will increase twice the original quantity when
moistened; and two and half times when soaked to
sprouting condition.

3. MILLETS
कदन्न
• Millets are a group of highly variable small-seeded grasses, widely grown
around the world as cereal crops or grains for human food and as fodder.
• Two major millet crops currently growing in India are
• Bajra (pearl millet)
• Jowar (sorghum),
• Other indigenous varieties of “small millets” like
• Ragi (Finger millet).
• Sanwa (Barnyard Millet)
• Proso millet ( Cheena)
• Kangni (Foxtail Millet)

4. Why to grow millets ?
कदन्न क्यों उगाएं?
Low input cost: These are good for the
soil, have shorter cultivation cycles and
require less cost-intensive cultivation.
Climate resilience: These unique features
make millets suited for and resilient to
India’s varied agro-climatic conditions.
Drought tolerance: Millets are not water
or input-intensive, making them a
sustainable strategy for addressing climate
change and building resilient agri-food
systems. https://www.millets.res.in/

5. Millets are smart foods
कदन्न स्माटर् फ
ू ड ह�
The following attributes are aptly applied to millets.
a. Good for the consumer: they can help overcome some of the biggest
nutritional and health problems (iron, zinc, folic acid, calcium, diabetes);
b. Good for the planet: they have a low water footprint, are able to
survive
in the hottest driest climates and will be important in coping with climate
change)
c. Good for the farmer: can increase yields up to 3 fold, have multiple
uses
(food, fodder, fuel), and are typically the last crop standing in times of
drought being a good risk management strategy for farmers.

6. “In times of climate change
millets are often the last crop
standing and, thus, are a good
risk management strategy for
resource-poor marginal farmers”
"जलवायु प�रवतर्न के समय में कदन्न अक्सर
अंितम फसल होती है और इस प्रकार, गरीब सीमांत
िकसानों के िलए एक अच्छी जोिखम प्रबंधन
रणनीित है"

8. 2023 International Year of Millets
2023 कदन्न का अंतरार्ष्ट्रीय वषर्
“Millets are beneficial for the farmers and especially the small and marginal
farmers”
 Millet crops do not require much water and get matured in a very short period
 Superfood: Millets contain plenty of protein, fiber, and minerals
 Along with reducing obesity, they also reduce the risk of iabetes, hypertension, and
heart-related diseases
 Millets are also very beneficial in fighting malnutrition since they are packed with
energy as well as protein.”
2023, has been declared by the United Nations as International Year of Millets.
This message has reached millions of people and created mass awareness of the
importance of millet.

9. Pearl Millet (बाजरा)
Biofortified = HHB 299 ( Zn 45 ppm, Fe 89ppm
, AHB 1200 (Fe 73ppm, Zn 41ppm)
Composite = P C 701, PC 443, PCB
164, ICMV 221, Raj 171
70-90 DAYS yield 30-32q/ha
Hybrid= HHB23, RHB 173, GHB 905
J&K 597 Kg/Ha (2018)

10. SORGHUM (ज्वार)
Grain sweet sorghum, Hybrid = CSH 22 SS , composite= SSV 84, CSV 19 SS
Multicut hybrid = SSG 59-3, PC 106, CSH 20 MF, CSH 24 MF,
Composit = HC 308, HC 171, HC 136, HC 260, CSV 15, CSV 20 (SPV 1616)
Seed rate: 7-8 kg /ha (3 kg/acre)

11. Finger millet (रागी)
PRM-1, PRM-2, VL 315, VL 324, VL-352, VL 149, VL 146, VL348,
VL-376, PES 400, VL-379
25-30 quintal/ha of grain and 60-70 quintal/ha of fodder standard conditions
15-20 qt/Ha field condition rainfed

12. Barnyard Millet (स्वांख)
VL 172, VL 207, PRJ 1, VL 29, PRS 1, DHBM-93-3
Seed rate: 8-10 kg/ha for line sowing
Yield: Grain-12-15 quintal/ha and Straw-20-25 quintal/ha

13. Foxtail millet (कं गनी)
PS 4 and PRK 1, Sreelaxmi, SiA 326, SiA 3088, SiA 3156, SiA 3085, PS-4

14. Proso millet (चीना)

15. Kodo millet (कोदो)

16. S. no Year Bajra Jowar Millets/ Other
cereals
1 1955-56 19.00 1.00 33.00
2 1965-66 16.00 1.00 24.00
3 1974-75 16.50 Neg 23.30
4 1985-86 16.99 0.10 15.46
5 1995-96 13.75 0.01 15.10
6 2005-06 13.01 1.42 14.05
7 2015-16 9.08 - 5.88
8 2019-20
(UT ofJ&K)
9.78 0.00 7.92
Source: DIGEST OF STATISTICS 2019-20
Status of Millets in J&K
जम्मू-कश्मीर म� कदन्न क� िस्थ�त
Area in ,000 ha

17. Trends in cultivation of millets in J&K
जम्मू और कश्मीर म� कदन्न क� खेती म� रुझान
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1955-
56
1965-
66
1974-
75
1985-
86
1995-
96
2005-
06
2015-
16
2019-
20
Area
,000
ha
Trends in cultivated area
Bajra
Jowar
Millets/
Other cereals

18. What can be done to promote millets as nutri-cereals?
कदन्न को पोषक अनाज के �प में बढ़ावा देने के िलए क्या िकया जा सकता है?
1) Rebranding the cereals as nutri-cereals
2) Incentive through hiking MSP
3) Providing steady markets through inclusion in PDS
4) Increasing area, production and yield
5) Intersection of agriculture and nutrition
1) setting up nutri-gardens,
2) promoting research on the inter linkages between crop diversity and
dietary diversity
3) running a behaviour change campaign to generate consumer demand
for nutri-cereals.

19. Agri-export promotion body Agriculture and
Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA) has set a target to raise the export
of millets and their value-added products to $100
million by 2023-24 from $64.28 million in 2021-22.
Though India is the top producer of millets, its export
share is less than 15 per cent in the global trade of
$470 million in 2021.
APEDA to promote Indian millets export in FY24 targets $100 m
The Hindu Businessline October 10, 2022
“India’s share in export of millets is at fifth position in the world and the target to be
among top three countries in next two years
APEDA aims to raise millets export to ₹2,000 cr by FY26
With 14 per cent growth in millets exports now focus on shipments of its organic variety
to achieve the target of at least ₹2,000 crore export by FY26. Millets exports were to the
tune of about ₹460 crore in 2021-22.
“We intend to exceed ₹2,000 crore by 2025-26 by touching at least 100 plus countries in
value-added and processed organic millet products,” said M Angamuthu, Chairman
The Hindu businessline November 02, 2022

20. INDIAN EXPRESS , Nov 16, 2022
Millets are well-known for their good nutritional values.
The indigenous, gluten-free sama (barnyard millets) has more than 10 per cent
protein while kuttu (buckwheat millet) provides a good dose of calcium, iron,
vitamin B6 and magnesium
Why millets for your Navratri fasting diet?
नवराित्र उपवास आहार के िलए कदन्न क्यों?

21. Nutritional Composition of Millets
कदन्न क� पोषक संरचना
High amount of Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn and vitamins
Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn और �वटा�मन क� प्रचुर मात्रा

22. Constraints and Remedies
बाध्यताएं तथा उपाये
Availability of improved and high yielding varieties of small
millets
Improvement in dehulling efficiency and separation.
Improvement of shelf life of the millet-based product.
Innovative millet-based products- Innovative packaging.

23. Value Added Millet Product
मूल्य विधर्त कदन्न उत्पाद

24. Value added millet products

25. Govt. Policies
Deficit mind-set: Till recent past, policies were based on the mind-set of the
1960s (GREEN REVOLUTION ERA).
Biased policies: The procurement, subsidies and water policies are biased towards
rice and wheat.
Skewed cropping pattern: Three crops (rice, wheat and sugarcane) corner 75 to
80 % of irrigated water.
Lack of diversification: Diversification of cropping patterns towards cereals,
pulses, oilseeds, horticulture is needed for more equal distribution of water,
sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.

26. THANK YOU
धन्यवाद