• Paramita Chakravorty

The United Nations declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Earlier 2018 was declared as the National Year of Millets by the Government of India. Millets can be cultivated even in dry regions with minimal input requirements and their cultivation is quite resilient to climatic changes. They also have high nutritional value and are gaining importance due to the health benefits from consumption of millets. There are quite a few varieties of millets that are cultivated in India, which include ragi (finger millet), jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), sawa (barnyard millet), proso millet, foxtail millet, kodo millet and others. Cultivation of millets can contribute to food security to the nation as well as nutritional security to the consumers. These are traditional food for a major section of the population in India and have higher nutritional value compared to our staples like wheat and rice. They are being called the nutri- cereals and smart food due to the health benefits and ease of cultivation. Most of the Indian states grow at least one variety of millets. Millets have also gained importance as an export item. An increase in the area of millet cultivation, government support through minimum support price to farmers and encouraging start-ups dealing with millets and millet products would bring about sustainable changes in the cultivation and consumption of this nutri-crop in future. The paper would try to present an overview of different dimensions of millet cultivation in India in recent times. This paper will try to look into the production of millets in India, with a focus on West Bengal’s position compared to some major states in which millets are cultivated.

millet, nutri-cereal, agriculture, sustainability

" AN OVERVIEW OF MILLET CULTIVATION IN INDIA IN RECENT TIMES - A WAY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 7, page no.i575-i579, July-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2407861.pdf

" AN OVERVIEW OF MILLET CULTIVATION IN INDIA IN RECENT TIMES - A WAY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 7, page no. ppi575-i579, July-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2407861.pdf