Present and future prospects ofmillets in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Millets are the super food adapted to varying climatic conditions ranging from Shivalik hill zone having subtropical climate with elevation of 350-650 m above mean sea level to high hills dry temperate zone that lies 2200 m above mean sea level. In Himachal Pradesh, millets are produced in most of the regions characterized by moderate (1100-2100 mm rainfall) to low precipitation (50 mm rainfall-snowfall). Major millets crops being grown in substantial quantity in Himachal Pradesh include finger millet (Eleusine coracana), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), little millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) and barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea). Pseudocereals viz. ogla (Fagopyrum esculentum), phafra (Fagopyrum tataricum) and Amaranthus hypochondriacus are also grown in wet and dry temperate regions of Himachal Pradesh. Strategies to mitigate challenges of nutritional security through intercropping or monocropping of millets with cash crops in potential niche areas would help in regaining global nutritional security in a sustainable manner.