Introduction

Millets—once the backbone of India's food system—have taken a backseat in today’s kitchens. Despite their high nutritional value and resilience to drought and climate change, millets are not as widely consumed as rice and wheat. So, what went wrong? Why did this ancient grain lose its importance post-independence?

Let’s explore the journey of millets, backed by scientific reasoning, agricultural policy changes, and health data.

🌾 What Are Millets?

Millets are a group of small-seeded grains like Ragi (Finger Millet), Bajra (Pearl Millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Foxtail Millet, and Barnyard Millet. They are gluten-free, rich in fiber, and packed with essential micronutrients like iron, magnesium, and calcium.

📉 Why Millets Lost Popularity After Independence?

1. Green Revolution & Government Policy Bias

• In the 1960s, India launched the Green Revolution to combat food shortages.
• Government heavily promoted high-yielding varieties (HYV) of rice and wheat.
• Subsidies, MSP (Minimum Support Price), irrigation infrastructure, and research focused only on rice and wheat, leaving millets behind.

🔍 According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), wheat and rice productivity rose by over 300% post-Green Revolution, while millet production stagnated.

2. Perceived as “Poor Man’s Food”

• Millets were mostly grown and consumed by rural and tribal communities.
• Urban middle-class populations considered wheat and rice as “superior grains”.
• This class bias contributed to millets being overlooked.

3. Shelf Life & Processing Difficulties

• Unlike rice and wheat, millets have shorter shelf life due to higher fat content (especially in finger millet).
• Milling and processing millets require traditional or specialized machinery, making mass production challenging.

4. Lack of Awareness & Culinary Adaptation

• Urban consumers are less aware of how to cook millets.
• Popular recipes are designed around wheat and rice.
• There is also a lack of millet-based convenience foods, though this is improving recently.

📊 Scientific Data: Why We Must Bring Millets Back

(Source: National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad)

🏛️ Where Did Millets Go After Independence?

1. Millets constituted over 40% of total grain production in India before the 1950s.
2. Today, they form less than 10% of India’s grain production.
3. Land under millet cultivation has declined from 37 million hectares in 1965 to 14 million hectares in 2020.

🔄 The Comeback: International Year of Millets 2023

The Government of India pushed for 2023 to be declared as the International Year of Millets by the United Nations. Now, millets are being brought back into the mainstream due to:

1. Their climate-resilience
2. Low water requirement
3. Nutritional richness
4. Better yields in arid regions

✅ Conclusion: Millets Deserve a Comeback

Millets were victims of policy neglect, social bias, and industrial-scale agriculture. But with rising awareness of sustainable farming and holistic nutrition, it’s time to bring them back to our plates.

Let’s reconnect with our traditional grains—not just for our health but also for the planet’s future.