Mains Practice Question
Back
Note:
Upload you handwritten answers photos in comment section. Our team will check and reach you ASAP.
Topic
The year 2023 is the International Year of Millets. Discuss the benefits of including millet as a cereal.
Introduction
A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about millets.
The United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Since that was at the initiative of India, which also accounts for a fifth of the world’s millet production.
India is the largest producer of millet in the world. India’s two varieties of millet namely Pearl Millet (Bajra) and Sorghum (Jowar) together contributed approximately 19 per cent to world production in 2020.
The major millets producing states in India are Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Body
You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:
Benefits of Millet as a Cereal
The protein, dietary fibre, iron and calcium contents in millet are 2-10 times higher than staple cereals including wheat and rice. Therefore, it is always good to consume millet-based foods which are rich in nutrients and have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
Millets are often the only crops that can grow in arid regions, requiring only 300– 400 mm of water compared to 1400–1500 mm for rice cultivation and 1900-2000 mm for sugar cane.
Millets are carbon-neutral crops by carbon absorption from the environment equivalent to their carbon emissions of 0.1–0.2 CO2eq kg per kg of production, compared to 0.4 CO2eq kg per kg of rice production and 0.35 CO2eq kg per kg of wheat production.
Millet is a short-duration crop that is good for a farmer. Millet is known as an efficient crop that takes only 60–90 days to mature while other fine cereals need 100–140 days.
Millets are carbon-neutral crops by carbon absorption from the environment equivalent to their carbon emissions of 0.1–0.2 CO2eq kg per kg of production, compared to 0.4 CO2eq kg per kg of rice production and 0.35 CO2eq kg per kg of wheat production.
Millet is a short-duration crop that is good for a farmer. Millet is known as an efficient crop that takes only 60–90 days to mature while other fine cereals need 100–140 days.
Millets are the hardiest, most resilient, and climate-adaptable crops in harsh, hot (up to 64 degrees Celsius) and drought environments.
Millet contains a lot more nutritional value than rice and wheat which can be able to fulfil our hunger for nutrition.
Millet releases sugar very slowly in comparison with rice and wheat. Sugar dissolves with blood after a long time of eating, so you will not get hungry frequently.
Conclusion
Your conclusion should be short.
Multiple varieties of millets are produced in India such as Pearl Millets, Sorghum, Finger Millet, Foxtail, Kodo, Barnyard, Proso, Little Millet and Pseudo Millets like Buckwheat and Amaranths. Pearl millet (Bajra), Sorghum (Jowar) and Finger Millet (Ragi) constitute the largest share of India’s total production of millets.
The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has bred Pusa-1201, a hybrid bajra that gives an average grain yield of over 2.8 tonnes and a potential of 4.5 tonnes per hectare. It matures in 78-80 days and is resistant to downy mildew and blast, both deadly fungal diseases.
Other Points to Consider
1. Government Initiatives towards Millet Cultivation
|
Previous Year Questions
1. How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in the recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption. (2018) |
11-Aug 2023
