The world of Millets: A comprehensive overview of millets and their Significance

Abstract

Cereal grains and pseudocereals are served as key sources of food worldwide. However, other significant cereal crops, such as sorghum and millets, along with pseudocereals, are crucial for the daily sustenance of billions of people in Asia and Africa. Millets are among the ancient crops, a staple food in many parts of the world, unfortunately, the production and consumption of millets declined in recent decades but gained popularity with the increasing recognition of the importance of food security and the need for sustainable agriculture practices, due to their low glycemic index and high nutritional values. Often referred to as Nutri cereals or orphan crops, millets are small-seeded cereal crops belonging to the Poaceae family. “The word “Millet” derives from the French word “Mille, " meaning thousands”.  They are the 6^th most important cereal crops cultivated worldwide and are among the first crops to be domesticated. Being C₄ plants, millets are also drought-resistant, disease and pest-resistant, hardy, and dry land crops that can adapt to various climate conditions, hence known as climate resilient crops. This review gives an overview of the different aspects like characteristics, historical account, geographic distribution, and importance of the different millet species. They are cultivated in extreme environmental conditions ranging from arid to semi-arid zones and are a primary food source in many Asian and African countries. They are used as both food and fodder with significant ecological, environmental, and ethnobotanical importance. Due to their higher nutritional value in proteins, vitamins, and minerals compared to wheat, rice, and maize, hence named “Nutricereal”.