Last April I put together a diagram to help inform thinking about a "millet-of-the-month" calendar. Recently I returned to it as a possible way of illustrating the relative importance of all millets globally, and of conveying information about which ones among this group of over a dozen species are grown in different world regions.
The base diagram, below, is a triangle (or pyramid), with the most produced and consumed towards the top, and the less produced and more local ones toward the base. There are 4 layers to the diagram. I have included sorghum, which is sometimes counted as a millet, and it occupies the top (point), since its production worldwide is by far greater than any of the other individual millets. If sorghum were not included, pearl millet would be at the top, as it apparently accounts for about half the worldwide production of all millets (aside from sorghum). The next layer includes the four most produced grains surnamed "millet" - pearl, foxtail, proso, and finger. Below that are millets that are of lesser importance, but are grownin more than one region and/or traded to limited degrees. And finally on the fourth level are millets that are local or rarely cultivated today. This is a subjective ranking, based on impressions from figures and other information (a more complete discussion of possible improvements is at the end of this email). The diagram itself is rough and would need a design makeover if wider use were envisioned.
[Millets-triangle.png]
The use of color coding allows us to convey certain information about this group of grains. For example, which of three botanical "tribes" they belong to:
[Millets-triangle-tribes-color.png]
Similarly, we can illustrate the origins of these various millets:
[Millets-triangle-continent-origins.png]
The above two color-coding exercises indicate that it might be helpful to rearrange millets within each line in order to group as much as possible related millets and geographical origins.
Continuing with the same layout, however, we can then proceed to illustrating what millets are and aren't important as crops in various world regions. Two examples only in this email. First, that of North America (in this case, Indian and Japanese barnyard are both grown, indicating that these closely-related and sometimes confused species should have separate boxes):
[Millets-triangle-USandCanada.png]
And second, an illustration of important millets in West and East Africa. I've combined them here since they are largely complementary, but they could be two separate treatments. Southern Africa is a bit complicated as to what is grown where, and I am not as familiar with that region, so that will be for another diagram.
[Millets-triangle-WandEAfrica.png]
Such regional or even country level diagrams could help in giving at-a-glance information about what millets are important where and in what ways. I may follow with more examples, time permitting.
Your feedback on any aspect of the above will be helpful. In the meantime, here are some areas for attention that I see:
* Possible accompanying document with data supporting the placement of various millets on each level
* Rearrangement of millets to correspond a bit better with botanical relationships (e.g., Andropogonae in the 4th level both in the left corner & Eragrostideae along the right side, with others in occupying the middle spaces)
* Rearrangement of millets to correspond a bit better to geographical origins (probably Asia to the left, and Africa to the right)
* Placement of millets of the same genus (e.g., proso & little) in adjacent boxes to the extent possible
* Split barnyard & fonio each into two (black fonio would probably go to the bottom line, if indeed it is less cultivated and not exported)
* More details on very minor millets for example in Setaria or Panicum that were of significance in some localities (e.g., in North America) in the past
* Design makeover with thinner dividing lines
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to any feedback,
DO, EL, MI, US
