Millet
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Pearl millet in the field |
 |
Ripe head of proso millet |
The
millets are a group of small-
seeded
species of
cereal crops, widely grown around the world for
food and
fodder. They do not form a
taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one, based on similar characteristics and uses.
The millets include species in several genera, mostly in the subfamily
Panicoideae, of the grass family
Poaceae.The most widely cultivated species in order of worldwide production[
1] are:#
Pearl millet (
Pennisetum glaucum)#
Foxtail millet (
Setaria italica)#
Proso millet also known as
common millet,
broom corn millet,
hog millet or
white millet (
Panicum miliaceum)#
Finger millet (
Eleusine coracana)
Minor millets include:
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Barnyard millet (
Echinochloa spp.)
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Kodo millet (
Paspalum scrobiculatum)
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Little millet (
Panicum sumatrense)
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Guinea millet (
Brachiaria deflexa =
Urochloa deflexa)
*
Browntop millet (
Urochloa ramosa =
Brachiaria ramosa =
Panicum ramosum)
Teff (
Eragrostis tef) and
fonio (
Digitaria exilis) are also often called millets, as more rarely are
sorghum (
Sorghum spp.) and
Job's Tears (
Coix lacrima-jobi).
Broomcorn (
Panicum miliaceum) and
Foxtail millet were important crops beginning in the Early
Neolithic of
China. For example, some of the earliest evidence of millet cultivation in China was found at
Cishan (north) and
Hemudu (south). Cishan dates to 7000-5000 B.C. and contained pit-houses, storage pits, pottery, agricultural stone tools, and carbonized Foxtail millet. A 4000 year old well-preserved bowl of noodles made from Foxtail millet and
Broomcorn millet was found at the
Lajia archaeological site in
China.
Palaeoethnobotanists in Canada, Korea, and Japan have found evidence of the cultivation of millet in the
Korean Peninsula dating to the Middle
Jeulmun pottery period (c. 3500-2000 B.C.). Millet continued to be important element in the multi-cropping intensive agriculture of the
Mumun pottery period (c. 1500-300 B.C.) in Korea. Millets and their wild ancestors such as barnyard grass and panic grass were also cultivated in
Japan during the
Jomon period some time after 4000 B.C.
Major research on millets is carried out by the
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in
Andhra Pradesh,
India, and by the
USDA-ARS at
Tifton, Georgia,
USA.
Millet sprays are often recommended as healthy treats to finicky pet birds, as they are easily eaten and (in the case of destructive-prone hookbills) easily broken.
Celiac patients can replace certain cereal grains in their diets by consuming millets in various forms including breakfast cereals.
Millet is a traditionally important grain used in brewing beer in some cultures, for instance by the
Tao people of
Orchid Island and, along with sorghum, by various peoples in East Africa.
In Western India, millet flour (called "Bajari" in Marathi) has been commonly used with "Jowar" (
Sorghum) flour for hundreds of years to make the local staple flat bread (called "
Bhakri").
Millet can often be used instead of buckwheat, rice, or quinoa.
The protein content in millet is very close to that of
wheat; both provide about 11% protein by weight.
Millet is rich in B vitamins, especially
niacin, B6 and
folacin,
calcium,
iron,
potassium,
magnesium, and
zinc. Millet contains no
gluten, so it cannot rise for bread. When combined with
wheat, though, it can be used for raised bread. Alone, it is suited for flatbread.
As none of the millets are closely related to wheat, they are appropriate foods for those with
coeliac disease or other forms of allergy/intolerance of wheat.
*
Alternative Field Crops Manual: Millets*
Vegetarians in Paradise: Millet History, Millet Nutrition, Millet Recipe
