Millets: A Climate-Resilient Nutricereals for Mitigating Hidden Hunger and Providing Nutritional Security

Millets, classified as minor cereals within the Poaceae family, are increasingly recognized as climate-resilient nutri-cereals, offering a sustainable pathway to combat hidden hunger and ensure nutritional security. This paper explores the multifaceted roles of millets in addressing malnutrition, fostering biodiversity conservation, and bolstering climate resilience. Rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants, millets hold promise in ameliorating gut-related ailments and metabolic disorders while promoting digestive, cardiovascular, and weight management health. Moreover, their versatility extends to culinary applications and livestock feed supplementation. Beyond their nutritional prowess, millets contribute to biodiversity preservation through diverse agricultural practices, habitat conservation, and the provision of pollinator habitats. Their cultivation supports sustainable agriculture by conserving water, mitigating climate change, and enhancing soil health. Drawing from global case studies, including the Millet Mission Project in India, the Millets for Health Project in Africa, and initiatives in Niger and Odisha, this paper underscores the policy implications and future directions for integrating millets in food and nutrition security strategies. These initiatives underscore the collaborative efforts required to bolster millet cultivation, consumption, and value addition, thus unlocking its full potential in addressing global food security challenges. Millets emerge as a pivotal solution at the nexus of agricultural, nutritional, and environmental sustainability, offering a pathway to combat malnutrition and hidden hunger while fortifying resilience in the face of climate variability.