Indian Millets

Cereal

Millets as a Subhead consists of Sorghum (jowar), Pearl millet (bajra), Finger Millet (ragi), Banyard Millet, Proso Millet, Kodo Millet, Buckwheat, Amaranthus and Foxtail Millet. Being excellent source of essential nutrients to the millions of Indians, they are also called as ‘nutritious cereals’. The Indian Millets are nutritionally superior to wheat and rice as they are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. They are also gluten-free and have a low glycemic index, making them ideal for people with celiac disease or diabetes. India is the world's Largest producer of Millets with the share of 38.40% of worlds production.(Source:Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) (Updated as on 01-12-2023)).

 
Countrywise Millet Production Millet Production India

 

The products under the category of Millets are as below:

Sl. No.  HS Code Product
1 10071000 Grain Sorghum Of Seed Quality
2 10079000 Grain Sorghum Other Than Seed
3 10081010 Buckwheat Of Seed Quality
4 10081090 Buckwheat Other Than Seed
5 10082110 Millet (Jawar) Of Seed Quality
6 10082120 Millet (Bajra) Of Seed Quality
7 10082130 Millet (Ragi) Of Seed Quality
8 10082140 Barnyard (Echinochloa esculenta (L.))
9 10082150 Proso (Panicum miliaceum (L.))
10 10082160 Foxtail (Setaria italica (L.))
11 10082170 Kodo (Paspalum scrobiculatum (L.))
12 10082180 Little (Panicum sumatrense (L.))
13 10082191 Amaranth (Amaranthus (L.))
14 10082199 Other 
15 10082910 Millet (Jawar) Other Than Seed
16 10082920 Millet (Bajra) Other Than Seed 
17 10082930 Millet (Ragi) Other Than Seed
18 10082940 Barnyard (Echinochloa esculenta (L.)) 
19 10082950 Proso (Panicum miliaceum (L.))
20 10082960 Foxtail (Setaria italica (L.))
21 10082970 Kodo (Paspalum scrobiculatum (L.)) 
22 10082980 Little (Panicum sumatrense (L.)) 
23 10082991 Amaranth (Amaranthus (L.)) 
24 10082999 Other
25 10083010 Millet (Canary) Of Seed Quality 
26 10083090 Millet (Canary) Other Than Seed
27 10086000 Triticale
28 10089010 Other Cereal Of Seed Quality 
29 10089090  Other Cereal Other Than Seed

 

Benefits of Millets:

  • Millets are highly adaptive to a wide range of ecological conditions and thrive well in rain-fed; arid climate and they have minimal requirement of water, fertilizers, and pesticides.
  • Health-promoting nutritious crop: Compared to other cereals they have superior micronutrient profile and bioactive flavonoids.
  • Millets have a low Glycemic Index (GI) and also associated with the prevention of diabetes.
  • They are good source of minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium.
  • Millets are gluten-free and can be consumed by celiac disease patients.
  • Millet has a beneficial effect on the management and prevention of hyperlipidemia and risk of CVD.
  • Millets are found to be helpful with the reduction of weight, BMI, and high blood pressure.
  • In India, Millet is generally consumed with legumes, which creates mutual supplementation of protein, increases the amino acid content, and enhances the overall digestibility of protein.
  • Millet based value-added products in ready to cook, ready to eat category are easily accessible and available in the global market.
  • Millets are used for dual purposes as food as well as fodder, which make it more farming efficient.
  • Millet cultivation helps to reduce the carbon footprint.

 

Millet Producing States:

The major millets producing states in India are Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Currently, together these ten states account for around 99 per cent in Millet’s production in India during the period 2023-24 (3rd Advance Estimates).