Prevalence and consumption of Millets in various districts of Himachal Pradesh - A Survey Study

Abstract

Millets are a group of small seeded grains that are widely grown around the world as cereal crops and used both for human food and fodder. Millets are an important crop of semi-arid area like Asia and especially of India. They are favoured due to its productivity and short growing season under varying weather conditions. In Ayurveda Millets are classified under Ksudra Dhanya. The UN general assembly has declared Year 2023 as the International Year of Millets because it is an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains. This is an opportunity to raise awareness of and direct policy attention to nutritional and health benefits of Millets. The present study is planned to assess the ground reality of mass awareness about cultivation, consumption of Millets in Himachal Pradesh. About 500 participants from different districts of Himachal Pradesh were selected randomly for survey study and data collected was analyzed. The results of study reflect that population of Himachal Pradesh is fairly aware about Millet’s cultivation and consumption.  Though lot of policies to promote cultivation and commercialization of Millet crops are in pipeline by Government of Himachal Pradesh, yet a concerted effort is still required to achieve the desired goal.