Read full article by Neelam Patel & Saloni Bhutani @ The Hindustan Times Photo Credit: The Hindustan Times
Data on health indicators, as published by NFHS 5 India Report 2022, shows that 59.1% of women are anaemic, 35.5% of children are stunted, 32.1% of children are underweight, 24.0% and 22.9% of women and men are obese, and 8.9% of the population is diabetic. The humble millet is one such whole-grain crop which is not just beneficial for the consumer but also for the farmers, as well as the environment.
The 21st century has brought with it multiple challenges for our country. Chief issues include undernourishment, micronutrient deficiency, lifestyle disorders, and non-communicable diseases. Our diet isn’t balanced; we consume foods dense in calories but lack essential micronutrients and dietary fibre, which has translated into poor health for many. Data on health indicators, as published by NFHS 5 India Report 2022, shows that 59.1% of women are anaemic, 35.5% of children are stunted, 32.1% of children are underweight, 24.0% and 22.9% of women and men are obese, and 8.9% of the population is diabetic
The humble millet is one such whole-grain crop which is not just beneficial for the consumer but also for the farmers, as well as the environment. It is nutritionally superior to cereals, non-acid forming, non-allergic, easy to digest, and rich in protein, antioxidants, dietary fibre, iron, magnesium, and calcium. It helps maintain body weight, improve haemoglobin levels, reduce iron deficiency, fight anaemia, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and various other non-communicable diseases. The crop is also easy to grow, requires less water, helps improve soil health, and is climate-resilient. Realising the potential of millets, the Government of India has been taking several steps, such as celebrating the National Year of Millets in 2018, formulating policies on millets, etc., to gazette millets as nutri-cereals.
