Pearl Millet Farming: It is often heard that our forefathers lived their lives to the fullest. At that time, the age used to be about 100 years or more. If we go through the pages of history, it is known that the food of that time was also different. Today, our diet has been limited to wheat and rice, but at that time, nutrition-rich coarse grains not only kept our ancestors free from diseases, but also blessed them with a long life. Among these coarse grains, the most mentioned millet is found, which also has the title of the oldest crop.
In olden times, the kitchen was filled with the fragrance of millet. The more nutritious the products made from this crop with small grains are, the more beneficial their cultivation is for the farmers. The best thing is that coarse grains like millets are contributing significantly to the food and nutritional security of the country today. This is the reason that during the International Year of Millets 2023, the production of millet as well as its use in food is being promoted in the country.
what is the history of millet
India is said to be the largest producer of coarse cereals, among which the production of millet is the highest. Don’t know how many of our farmers have been taking millet production for generations. According to media reports, evidence of millet production has been found in India since 1500 BC. Cultivation of this crop is the easiest. For unirrigated areas, millet is no less than a boon. There is neither the cost of fertilizers nor pesticides in this farming. Millet can be grown even if the land is barren. Climate change does not have a bad effect on the millet crop, so today the cultivation of millet is being encouraged a lot.
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Highest production in this state
Most of the area is unirrigated in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, where there are not enough means of irrigation and the land is also very dry and barren. The maximum production of millet is being received from these states. If we look at the figures of the last 5 years, in the year 2020-21, India has produced the maximum 13.71 to 18 million tonnes of millet. Rajasthan is at the forefront in the production of millet in the country. There is a lot of water scarcity here, most of the areas are dry and barren, due to which the farmers are completely dependent on rain water. In such a situation, the cultivation of millet is the Messiah for the farmers of Rajasthan.
Take advantage of hybrid variety of millet
By the way, evidence of millet cultivation has also been found in the Indus Valley Civilization. Many indigenous varieties of millet are being grown in the country, but the trend of high production and pest-disease resistant varieties is also increasing. Now agricultural scientists are also promoting scientific farming to get quality production of millet. For this, many hybrid varieties of millet have been developed, which are full of nutrition. These varieties are full of nutrition, which improves the immunity of the body.
Why is millet special
Millets are rich in magnesium and potassium, which manage the body as well as heart health. Millet is also said to be beneficial for diabetes patients. Millet has more nutrition than wheat and rice, so be sure to include 10 to 15 percent millet in your diet. Today, the Government of India is also making the world aware of the merits of millet through the International Nutritious Food Year 2023. Millet is being grown not only in India, but in many countries. It is the 6th most cultivated crop and India is its fifth largest exporting country.
Disclaimer: Some of the information given in the news is based on media reports. Farmer brothers, before implementing any suggestion, do consult the concerned expert.
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