Millets encompass a diverse group of cereals including pearl millet, proso millet, foxtail millet, barnyard, kodo, browntop, finger and Guinea millets, as well as fonio, sorghum (or great millet) and teff.

What is Smart Food?

Smart Food is food that fulfil all criteria of being:

1 . Good for you (nutritious and healthy);

2 . Good for the planet (environmentally sustainable); and

3 . Good for the farmer (climate smart, potential to increase yields, multiple uses).

Why are millets a smart food?

1 . Millets are good for you (nutritious and healthy)

֍Millets are the powerhouse of nutrition, they contain various essential nutrients such as iron, manganese, calcium etc. and work great in preventing and treating various nutritional deficiencies.

֍Compared to other cereals they have superior micronutrient profile and bioactive flavonoids.

֍They are rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron and calcium; are high in protein, antioxidants and resistant starch.

2 . Millets are good for the planet (environmentally sustainable)

֍Millet cultivation helps to reduce the carbon footprint.

֍They need minimal inputs, are resistant to diseases and pests and offer a reduced dependence on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. They are also more resilient to changes in climate than any other cereals.

֍Millets can grow in both low and high altitudes and across a wide latitudinal range, on arid lands, under non-irrigated conditions, in very low rainfall regimes, and have a low water footprint.

֍Millets require less water than rice and wheat.

֍They are very tolerant of heat (up to 64 degrees Celsius), drought and flood and it makes the crop an obvious choice for farmers in an era of climate change and depleting natural resources.

3 . Millets are good for the farmer (climate smart, potential to increase yields, multiple uses)

֍Because millets can grow in less fertile soil and require less maintenance to grow, they can be beneficial for farmers. They can be great in reducing the economic burden on farmers and providing economic security to them.

֍Suitable for mixed and intercropping, crops like maize and broad bean, grown with millets, offer food and livelihood security to farmers.

֍On top of diversifying the food system, millets can help enhance livelihoods for small farmers, including women, nationally and regionally.

֍Millets are used for dual purposes as food as well as fodder, which make it more farming efficient.

֍Millets are an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains.