Millets: The future crops for the tropics - Status, challenges and future prospects

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Food Security

Background:

• Millets are climate-resilient, nutritious minor cereals often overlooked in research and policy.
• Increasing global focus on millets, including the UN's International Year of Millets (2023), highlights their potential.
• Tropical countries like India and Bangladesh are prioritizing millet cultivation and improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the advantages and disadvantages of millet cultivation and improvement in tropical regions, with a focus on Bangladesh.
• To identify barriers hindering millet adoption and promotion.
• To outline strategies for scaling up millet cultivation.

Main Methods:

• A detailed review of existing literature and data on millet cultivation, challenges, and opportunities.
• Analysis of socioeconomic, environmental, and nutritional factors influencing millet production.
• Examination of policy and investment strategies for agricultural development.

Main Results:

• Key barriers include limited R&D, inadequate infrastructure, weak market linkages, and low awareness of benefits.
• Prospects for scaling up involve increased investment, strengthened farmer organizations, value chain development, and policy integration.
• Millet cultivation can support sustainable agriculture, enhance food and nutritional security, and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Conclusions:

• Millets hold significant potential for equitable and sustainable agricultural growth in the region.
• Overcoming barriers requires a multi-stakeholder approach prioritizing innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.
• Further research on the socioeconomic, environmental, and nutritional impacts is crucial for evidence-based policymaking.