What are Millets? Varieties, Names & Types

Pearl Millet crop. Photo: Max Pixel Millets Millets are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cere...

Pearl Millet crop. Photo: Max Pixel

Millets

Millets are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. 

Millets are important crops in the semiarid tropics of Asia and Africa (especially in South India, Mali, Nigeria, and Niger), with 97% of millet production in developing countries. It used to be favoured crop for many centuries in drought prone regions, as its productivity was consistent, short growing duration even under dry, high-temperature conditions.

Crop doesn't demand much water & little to moderate rainfall is enough for its cultivation, since it belongs to the grass family that thrive in wild. However, due to the industrialisation of agriculture (post WW-II), other commercially viable crops was given the priority and hence millets was almost totally forgotten. 

Millets are indigenous to many parts of the world. The most widely grown millets are sorghum and pearl millets, which are important crops in India and parts of Africa. Finger millet, proso millet, and foxtail millet are also important crop species.

Millets may have been consumed by humans for about 7,000 years and potentially had "a pivotal role in the rise of multi-crop agriculture and settled farming societies." Generally, millets are small-grained, annual, warm-weather cereals belonging to the grass family. They are highly tolerant of drought and other extreme weather conditions and have a similar nutrient content to other major cereals.

Resurrection of the Forgotten

Modern food habits brought in many ailments & diseases (to the scale of what it is today), that were almost unheard of in the history of mankind. Few researchers found out that the good old millets were answering to most of these modern diseases, and it is due to this reason that they are making a come back.

One prominent name in this researching community is Dr. Khader Valli. Hailing from southern India, Dr. Valli has extensively researched almost every variety of it and formulated on which one to use, how & when to use it. He hand picked 5 of the best of the millets & named it Siridhanya (meaning rich cereal/grain), which were actually consumed by the poorest population (and were called 'Kudhanya' meaning inferior cereal/grain), but were rich in health - hence the name.

5 Positive Millets (Siridhanya)

English	Hindi	Kannada	Telugu	Tamil	Malayalam	Marathi	Gujarathi	Bengali	Punjabi	Odia
Barnyard Millet	Sanwa	Oodhalu	Udhalu	Kuthiraivally	Kavadapullu	Shamul	Samo /Moraiyo	Shyama	Swank	Khira
Kodo Millet	Kodon	Araka	Arikelu	Varagu	Koovaragu	Kodra	Kodra	Kodo	Kodra	Kodua
Little Millet	Kutki	Samai	Samulu	Samai	Chama	Sava, Halvi, vari	Gajro, Kuri	Sama	Kutki	Kanghu, Kangam,Kora
Foxtail Millet	Kakum	Navane	Korra	Tenai	Thinai	Kang, Rala	Kang	Kaon Dana	Kangni	Odia
Brown Top Millet		Korale	Andakorra	Pala Pul	​Chama Pothaval	Makra, Murat	Hari Kang	Bengali	Hari Kangni	Odia

Neutral Millets

English	Hindi	Kannada	Telugu	Tamil	Malayalam	Marathi	Gujarathi	Bengali	Punjabi	Odia
Finger Millet	Nachani	Ragi	Ragula	Kezhvaragu	Panji pullu	Nagli, Nachni	Nagli, Bavto	Marwa	Mandhuka, Mandhal	Mandia
Proso Millet	Chena	Baragu	Variga	Pani Varagu	Malayalam	Vari	Cheno	Cheena	Cheena	China Bachari bagmu
Pearl Millet	Bajra	Sajje	Sajja	Kanbu	Kambam	Bajri	Bajri	Bajra	Bajra	Bajra
Sorghum (Great Millet)	Jowar	Bili jola	Jonna	Jolam	Cholam	Jwari	Jowari, Juar	Jowar	Jowar	Juara

Last updated: 2023, July 9