A Step towards Nutritional Food Security and Agrarian Sustainability

Government of India has started promoting millets due to its climate resilience and nutritional properties and declared them as nutri-cereals. To mark their importance, the year 2018 was celebrated as ‘National Year of Millets’ and FAO has also agreed to celebrate ‘International Year of Millets’ in 2023 on India’s proposal. To be the part of this important National campaign and to contribute towards nutritional and future food security, an initiative has been undertaken for the first time by growing more than 1600 accessions of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem & Schult.) at Issapur Farm, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi. Significant variability was observed in terms of plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, seed color, panicle length, panicle compactness and 1000 grain weight and potential accessions have been identified. This preliminary characterization revealed that farmers in and around Delhi area can also take up this crop to address malnutrition, improve human health and their economic growth.

(Source:  Dr. Lalit Arya, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi