MINOR MILLETS
The minor millets comprise of proso millet or panivaragu (Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet or thenai (Setariaitalica), little millet or samai (Panicum sumatrense), barnyard millet or sanwa millet (Echinochloa colona) and kodo millet or varagu (Paspalum scrobiculatum).
Minor millets are high energy, nutritious foods comparable to other cereals and some of them are even better with regard to protein and mineral content. They are particularly low in phytic acid and rich in dietary fibre, iron, calcium and B vitamins. As the millets are consumed by the poor, they guard them against food and nutritional insecurity imposed by various agronomic, socio economic and political factors. Minor millets can thus act as a shield against nutritional deficiency disorders and provide nutritional security.
Supplementation of cereal based products with millets has become increasingly popular due to nutritional and economic advantages. With proper preparation, 30 per cent of minor millets can be gainfully substituted in value added foods belonging to the categories of traditional foods, bakery products, extruded foods and allied mixes for the convenient preparation by rural and town folk at low cost. Poroso millet flour is used as a substitute for rice flour in various snack foods.
Traditionally, finger, kodo and poroso millets are brewed by tribal in certain parts of India. Popping of finger millet is done on cottage industry level and the popped meal is marketed in polyethylene pouches.
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