Millets & nutrient-rich specialty crops

Millets: A group of small-grained cereals such as pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), sorghum (jowar), foxtail millet, kodo, little millet, barnyard millet etc. These are hardy, drought-tolerant, often require low inputs, and are rich in micronutrients.
Nutrient-rich specialty crops: Crops bred or chosen for high content of vitamins, minerals, bio-active compounds, or other nutritional features. This might include biofortified varieties, less common grains (buckwheat, amaranth), pulses, oilseeds, medicinal plants, etc.

This Shift Is Happening

Nutrition Security & Public Health Pressures
- High rates of malnutrition, anemia, micronutrient deficiencies (iron, calcium etc.) among children and women drive demand for foods richer in those nutrients.
- Millets are naturally rich in fibre, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins etc., so they are being seen as tools to improve health outcomes.
Environmental / Climate Resilience
- Millets are adapted to drought, marginal soils, require less water and fertilizer. Thus more climate-resilient especially in rain-fed or semi-arid regions.
- Growing interest in sustainability, and reducing ecological footprint of staples.
Policy Support & Government Initiatives
- Government has renamed millets “Shree Anna” to elevate their status.
- Inclusion in schemes like the National Food Security Mission, Nutri-Cereals sub-mission, Mid-Day Meals, PDS etc. to promote consumption.
- Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for millets have been increasing, sometimes exceeding those for rice in certain states.
Changing Consumer Preferences
- Urban consumers are more health-conscious, want nutrient-rich, whole, less processed foods.
- Interest in “ancient grains,” gluten-free diets, functional foods has given millets a marketing edge.
Export & Market Opportunities
- Growing demand globally for healthy grains. India is a major producer of millets and has export potential.

Policy / Programs
- Nutri-Cereals Mission (under NFSM) to enhance millet production.
- States promoting “millet missions” (e.g. states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha) with support for seed, processing, awareness.
R&D & Seed Development
- ICAR and other bodies developing high-yield, climate resilient, sometimes biofortified or faster-maturing millet varieties (e.g. “Pusa 2002” which matures faster) that reduce risk to farmers.
Market / Value-Added Products
- More millet-based snacks, ready-to-eat or ready-to-cook millet foods to suit urban lifestyle & reduce preparation time.
- Efforts to include millets in Mid-Day Meals, public distribution etc. enhancing their reach.

Consumer awareness / perceptions:
- Many people do not know millets’ health benefits; some believe they are “poor man’s food” or hard to cook. Taste, cooking time, familiarity are barriers.
Policy & Procurement Limitations:
- Even though MSP s are rising, procurement of millets under schemes is not always assured or widespread (especially compared with rice/wheat).
Supply Chain / Post-Harvest Issues:
- Millets often have shorter shelf life, may be more prone to spoilage without good storage/processing.
- Difficulties in processing, making them into ready products, packaging, branding etc.
Yield Gaps & Farmer Incentives:
- Though yields have improved, area under millets had declined in many years because of lower returns, less stable market for millets historically.
- Need for better seeds, mechanization, better input use so that farmers get comparable returns.

If you grow millets or specialty nutrient-rich crops, potential for better income, especially if demand increases and supply chain improves.
Lower input costs (less water, fewer fertilizer/pesticide needs) can reduce risk.
Opportunity to tap into government procurement or subsidy schemes.
If you produce for value-added product markets (snacks, health foods) there’s likely higher margins.