ABSTRACT
Millet is a broad term that collectively represents small-seeded grains. There are over 20 cultivated species of millets and Asia and Africa are the major centres of their origin. The most widely produced, studied, and consumed among these are pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., Syn. Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morron], foxtail millet (Setaria italica), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), barnyard millet (Echiconola esculenta, E. frumentacea), kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum), little millet (Panicum sumatrense), teff (Eragrostis tef), and fonio (Digitaria exilis Stapf, D. iburua Stapf). Millets belong to the family Poaceae/Gramineae and subfamilies Panicoideae or Chloridoideae. The major growth stages of millets are the vegetative stage, panicle development stage, and grain filling stage. The plant height, stem diameter, stage of panicle emergence, panicle shape, grain yield, and grain shape vary according to millet type and variety. In total millets have more than 164,777 conserved germplasm accessions worldwide. They are also one of the most hardy crops with the ability to grow on low-fertility soils with annual precipitation as low as 200 mm. Many millets are also tolerant to high salinity and can be grown in fields where other crops fail. An increase in the production of millets has been observed in the past few years and the production of millets was estimated to be 31.11 million metric tonnes for the year 2021.
