Abstract

OVERVIEW ON MILLETS: A MINI REVIEW

Naresh Kshirasagar, G. Harika, T. Shalini, Srilatha Malvey*

Abstract

Millets offer nutritional security and there is a need for promoting millets as they are highly nutritious. These have been important food staples in human history, particularly in Asia and Africa. Sorghum and other millets consumption usage as direct food has significantly declined over the past three decades. The important nutrients present in millets include resistant starch, oligosaccharides, lipids, antioxidants such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, lignans and phytosterols which are believed to be responsible for many health benefits. The preparation and production of such products by households, entrepreneurs, self-help groups, small scale industries and large-scale industries can raise their income level by promoting the value-added products. By promotion of these value-added products can improve the socio- economic status and health status of the consumers. The synergic efforts resulted various nutritionally rich convenient sorghum product technologies were developed and successfully commercialized on pilot scale at Hyderabad. Scientific empirical studies conducted on various products have shown that the recipes such as idle, dosa, etc. with sorghum and other millets as that of rice, wheat etc. Implementation of effective promotional strategies and policy sensitization attracted entrepreneurs and policy makers to consider sorghum as priority.

Keywords: Classification of millets; Nutrition Facts; Nutrient Composition;