Rediscovering the Superfood: Shree Anna

India is the global hub for Millets, which have been rebranded as "Shree Anna" (The Mother of all Grains) to honor their immense nutritional and ecological value. The National Millet Mission focuses on reviving these ancient grains in Indian farms and plates.

Types of Millets: - Major Millets: Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi). - Minor Millets: Foxtail (Kangni), Kodo, Barnyard (Sanwa), Little Millet (Kutki), and Proso (Cheena).

Why Grow Millets? 1. Climate Smart: Require much less water than rice or wheat and can grow in poor soils. 2. Minimal Inputs: Generally hardy and require fewer chemical fertilizers and pesticides. 3. High Nutrition: Rich in protein, fiber, minerals (Iron, Calcium), and are gluten-free. 4. Short Duration: Many millets can be harvested in just 70-100 days.

Government Support: - MSP Support: Millets are covered under the Minimum Support Price. - PDS Integration: Including millets in the Public Distribution System (Ration) to boost demand. - Start-up Support: Encouraging industries to create value-added products like millet biscuits, pasta, and snacks.

International Year of Millets (2023): The UN declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets following a proposal by India, highlighting millets as a solution for global food security and climate change.