The millet is slowly but surely making a comeback in India and across the globe, to keep the ball rolling, 2023 has been declared as the ‘Year of the Millet’ by the UN. This is not a trend that will fade away with time. Nutritionists, health gurus and even the Indian government is taking this rather seriously, as they see and understand the grave importance of millet consumption now, more than ever.
Millet happens to be one the first ever crops to be domesticated and brought to dinner tables. Historians have traced millet back to 3,000 BC. There is evidence of consumption of millet by the folks of Indus Valley Civilization, it was also found that a variety of millet were first grown in India and then moved to other parts of Asia before taking on the world.
Millets are highly nutritious small seeded grasses and are considered a great breakfast cereal in many parts of the world. These super grains are not only high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and amino acids but also have numerous health benefits, adding millet to your diet can help you combat issues related to the digestive system, sleep, diabetes, obesity, lifestyle disorders and can even promotes appetite control to certain levels. Bajra, Ragi, Jowar, Nanchi, Barnyard millet and Foxtail millet are the common kinds of millet we are getting to hear about these days.
Moreover, it was the millet that ruled the charts of staples in India before The Green Revolution made wheat and rice more accessible, almost bringing millet to category of least favorites. It only now, with growing awareness around this crop that millet is becoming the talk of town and gaining back its popularity as it brings back some age-old, highly nutritious recipes.
There are some Indian startups that have caught our attention while they have been trying to revamp the millet.
Native food store happens to be one such brand. They first started out in the year 2016. This Chennai based brand aims brings to you this healthy and unique experience by delivering traditional south Indian millet-based food items and in doing so, after years of research they have come up with an interesting array of food options to choose from, noodles, flakes and dosa mixes to name a few.
Founded by Ruchika Bhuwalka in 2017, this Bangalore based brand called Millet Amma offers millet-based products to its consumers from around the world. Their aim is to replace unhealthy, highly-refined and harmful carbohydrate intensive diets and bring back the ancient millet crop as it is not only healthy but also a sustainable option. Millet Amma has chosen to accommodate various cuisines and preferences so that they get to have a better and bigger reach.
Phalada Pure & Sure is another such brand that is working on spreading the consumption of millet while focusing on putting its health benefits out there. In 2011 the founder, Surya Shastry conceived the idea of this brand in Bangalore, with the vision of providing clean, green and organic food to every table in the country. All their products are grown and harvested by nature, with no artificial extras added. Pure & Sure also helps local farmers boost their income by adopting organic ways.
The Millet crop is getting so much importance in 2023 not only because of the history and the super-food status it carries with it but also the fact that this crop is highly recommended when it comes to sustainability. India is the largest producer of the millet crop but not the largest consumer, with more awareness and understanding of the benefits of this crop we will definitely be able to achieve that too someday.
Attaining sustainable development is on the agenda this year for the United Nations. Speaking of sustainability, it is important to note that environmentally, the millet crop can thrive in rain-fed regions and does not require much water to do so. Millets are known to consume lesser water and also take much lesser time to grow compared to rice and wheat. This makes this crop a one-stop solution when it comes to the problem of water scarcity, climate change along with other environmental issues.
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