At the G20 gala dinner in Delhi, hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, world leaders enjoyed a three-course vegetarian meal with a variety of millets. This celebration of the “Fall Season of Abundance” highlighted the health benefits and versatility of millet as a superfood.
The menu featured a variety of millet-based dishes, including crispy millet leaves with yogurt and spiced chutney, Kerala red rice with crispy millet and curry leaves, a cardamom-scented millet pudding with fig compote and peach, and a jackfruit cake with glazed wild mushrooms. Drinks included Kashmiri Kahwa, Darjeeling tea and South India’s famous filter coffee.
Millet farming communities across India have joined the millet movement and are growing various varieties such as Ragi, Barnyard, Little, Foxtail, Proso and Kodo. These millet varieties are known for their nutritional value and adaptability to different climates.
Ragi, also known as finger millet, is very nutritious and rich in calcium and potassium. Cultivation is easy and requires minimal fertilizer and water. Domestic millet is a crop that is resistant to climate stress and pests. It is rich in protein, calcium, iron and vitamin B, which makes it beneficial for people with type II diabetes and heart problems.
In addition to being a nutritious food, small millet is also used as animal feed and bioenergy. It is adaptable to different environments, less susceptible to pests and diseases, and is rich in magnesium, calcium, zinc and protein.
Foxtail millet, one of the world’s first cultivated plants, has a short growth cycle and is grown in arid and semi-arid regions. It is rich in micronutrients, especially vitamin B1, which can reduce the risk of neurological disorders.
Proso millet is resistant to heat and drought. Improves wheat productivity and is resistant to pests. Millet is rich in micronutrients and essential amino acids that have positive effects on heart health and regulate insulin levels.
Kodo millet is a hardy crop that can thrive in both dry and wet conditions, making it a suitable alternative to rice. It has antioxidant properties, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol and shows anti-allergic properties.
The use of millet in the G20 dinner highlights its importance as a nutritious and sustainable food source. Millet not only has a positive impact on health, but also on the environment and farmers.
