Millets: A Crop(s) for Climate Resilience and Food Security

Abstract

Millets is a class of small seed grasses, belong Poaceae (Gramineae) family, Widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid region around the world as cereal crops. This is one of the oldest cereals introduced to mankind. Millets possess good properties of adaptability in harsh environment. Millets have excellent plant defense mechanism to survive in biotic and abiotic stress conditions compare to other cereals. In comparison to the mainstream crops, millets have the ability to offer rich macronutrients (protein, fibre, vitamins, starch) and micronutrients (Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mg) when used as a staple crop diversifier. They are incredibly nutrient-dense and have been shown to be essential in both preventing and treating number of diseases. Millets contain phenolic compounds that are good for human health, including as flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic acids. Millet grains include phytochemicals that improve human health by reducing cholesterol and phytates in the body. By consuming these grains, one's diet may become healthier and illness risk may be reduced. The primary objective of this review is to illustrate the importance of millets in the context of nutritional and climate status for the benefit of human and their livestock.