Q. Explain the role of millets for ensuring health and nutritional security in India.

Model Answer:

Millets : Ensuring health and nutritional security

Millets, traditional grains cultivated in India for millennia, play a crucial role in ensuring health and nutritional security. These small-seeded grasses include varieties like jowar, bajra, ragi, and minor millets.

Nutritional profile and health benefits:
• Rich in proteins (10-12% compared to 6-8% in rice), dietary fiber, and micronutrients
• High iron content (4.7mg/100g in finger millet vs. 0.7mg/100g in rice)
• Low glycemic index, aiding diabetes management
• High fiber content supports cardiovascular health and weight management
• Gluten-free nature suitable for celiac disease patients

Role in nutritional security:
• Combat malnutrition through high nutrient density
• Address micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron and calcium
• Enhance dietary diversity, offering an alternative to wheat and rice

Food security advantages:
• Climate resilience: Drought-tolerant, suitable for semi-arid regions
• Low input requirement: Can be grown in marginal lands
• Storage longevity ensures year-round availability

Government initiatives promote millet cultivation and consumption. The Odisha Millets Mission, launched in 2017, increased millet production by 120% in three years, improving farmer incomes and nutritional outcomes.

Challenges persist:
• Low productivity and lack of processing technologies
• Limited consumer awareness

To address these, India must:
• Invest in research for high-yielding varieties and modern processing methods
• Promote millets through public distribution system and mid-day meal schemes
• Raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of millets

Conclusion: Millets offer a nutrient-dense, climate-resilient solution to India’s health and nutritional security challenges, aligning with sustainable development goals.