Why are millets said to be climate friendly?

QUES . Why are millets said to be climate friendly? Explain it in the context of International Year of Millets (2023) declared by the United Nations. UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2023 General Studies . 200 Words . 5 Marks

HINTS:

֍Millets are environment-friendly grains.Increasing millet production and consumption can be a great way to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce the carbon footprint on the environment. This is one of the reasons for millets to be considered as the new-age global grain.

֍Millets can counter many of the adverse effects of climate change better than most other food crops.

֍Millets grow in almost any type of soil – sandy or with varying levels of acidity. Also they can grow in less fertile soil. Millets help in preventing soil depletion and improve its fertility and overall soil health.

֍They are drought-resistant crops and can survive well in hot temperatures too. This climatic resistance makes millet a preferred choice of crop for arid and semi-arid regions of India where growing other popular crops like wheat, rice etc., is challenging. Even among the sand dunes of Rajasthan, where other cereals are likely to fail, millets grow well.

֍Millets require 70-80% less water than other popular crops like wheat and rice. Thus, millets crops can be a great option to grow with less water supply. Millets have an efficient root system that captures the moisture needed even from erratic rainfall of about 350-400 mm a year, received over a few days.

֍Millet crops also have a good ability to sequester carbon and so help climate adaptation, considering the water needs and methane emission of rice fields.

֍Millets offer natural resistance to pests and insects. They require less pesticides to grow and can be a great option to promote organic agriculture.

֍Millets’ environmental benefits create lots of positive impacts ranging from helping in solving the food security issue to being a prime factor in achieving the SDG goals.

֍Millets can be the wonder crop providing food, nutrition and livelihood security, beating the adverse effects of climate change. All they need is support from policymakers.

Related Posts

Jupiter: Key Facts, Size, Moons, Temperature & Rings

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet in the Solar System. Key facts about Jupiter It is a gas giant with a…

Why the words ‘Secular’ and ‘Socialist’ added to the Preamble?

QUES . The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution of India added the words ‘Secular’ and ‘Socialist’ to the Preamble of the Constitution in 1976. What prompted this…

Inner Party Democracy in Political Parties: Significance, Challenges and Steps

QUES . What is the significance of Inner Party Democracy in political parties ? How could it be ensured in our political system? UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2018…

How the Election Commission of India ensures smooth conduct of elections?

QUES . Discuss how the Election Commission of India ensures smooth conduct of elections. UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2014 General Studies. 200 Words. 5 Marks The Election Commission…

Finance Commission : Constitutional Provisions and Functions

QUES. Describe the constitutional provisions regarding the Finance Commission of India and explain its functions. UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2024 General Studies. 200 Words. 5 Marks HINTS: Article…

“Prime Minister is the nucleus of the Indian political system”

QUES . “Prime Minister is the nucleus of the Indian political system.” Discuss. UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2024 General Studies. 200 Words. 5 Marks HINTS: In the scheme…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is protected !!