Millet: A Promising Crop for Food and Nutritional Security of Urban and Rural Households

Abstract

The Tumakuru district of Karnataka's small millets-consuming households were the study's focus from 2021 to 2022. The study looked at their food consumption patterns, nutrition, and overall health. Based on primary data from 60 households, 30 from each of the urban and rural areas were conducted. The results demonstrated that, consumption of small millet was higher in the high-income group (>1,00,000) in urban areas due to health and nutrition consciousness across all income groups. The per capita consumption of small millets was relatively higher in rural area (2.2 kg/month) as compared to urban area (1.4 kg/month).  While 57 per cent of rural households ate millets as a cultural and dietary practice, 40 per cent of urban households to control their blood sugar levels. Energy from the consumption of small millets, such as ragi, is produced in rural areas. About 67 per cent of households in urban areas reported that eating small millets helped them control their blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes, while 80 per cent of farmers in rural areas said that eating small millets kept them alert and energized all day. The amount of small millets consumed and the nutritional and health status of rural and urban households are both improved by policy initiatives such as the addition of small millets to the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Mid Day Meal program, and raising public awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of small millets consumption.