Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is our "millet of the month" for May in 2024. Here are links to a short video and a number of other items that may be of interest. Finger millet is not yet grown in North America outside of a few experimental fields and some ornamental planting (as far as I know), but it is seen as having potential. It is noted for being extremely high in calcium content. Finger millet grain, flour, and some processed products are imported from India, and sold in stores specializing in foods from South Asia, as well as online. The video mentioned above is of a brief presentation about finger millet by Prof.. Patrick Byrne of Colorado State University. The presentation was apparently done at the CSU Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center in November 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMsESDpQ6GI . CSU presents this same video with a helpful write-up (it's actually a chapter in a short e-book entitled "Understudied Indigenous Crops" that Prof. Byrne co-edited with Katheryn Chen), and some other videos from FAO. at https://colostate.pressbooks.pub/understudiedindigenouscrops/chapter/finger-... Website articles include: * "Finger Millet (Ragi) Benefits and Side Effects: The Ultimate Guide," Yummy Valley, 24 April 2024 https://yummy-valley.com/blog/finger-millet-benefits/ (summarizes a variety of points, and has some recipes of South Asian inspiration; good as intro) * "Finger Millet," Plant Village, n.d. https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/finger-millet/infos (this site is part of a Penn State Univ. program in support of African smallholder farmers, but the crop information summarized on this page would be of interest to anyone considering growing finger millet) * "Finger Millet: The BOLD Finger Millet Project," Crop Trust, n.d. https://bold.croptrust.org/crops/finger-millet/ (key points in Crop Trusts' BOLD program on finger millet, this has info on challenges and potential of finger millet, primarily in East Africa; note tie-ins with Crop Trust's Crop Wild Relatives project; BOLD="Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihoods and Development") * "Finger Millet Market by Application, Distribution Channel, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027," Technavio, March 2023 https://www.technavio.com/report/finger-millet-market-industry-analysis (this is a summary of a report for sale, and has a lot of interesting information on the global market for finger millet; this market is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.48% thru 2027) Scholarly articles include: * Chandrashekar, Arun. "Finger Millet: Eleusine coracana." Chapter 6 (pp. 215-262) in Steve L. Taylor, ed., *Advances in Food and Nutrition Research*. Academic Press, Vol. 59 (2010). Pages 215-262. doi: 10.1016/S1043-4526(10)59006-5 . https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043452610590065
From the abstract: "One major use for the grain is the making of fermented beverages after malting. α-Amylase and β-amylase are produced during germination. Food made from malted ragi is traditionally used for weaning and has been the source of low viscosity weaning foods that can deliver more energy per feed than those based on gelatinized starch. There is some evidence that foods from finger millet have a low gylcaemic index and are good for diabetic patients. Decortication, puffing, extrusion, and expansion are some of the new uses that the grain has been put to."
* Devi, Palanisamy Bruntha et al. “Health benefits of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) polyphenols and dietary fiber: a review.” *Journal of food science and technology* vol. 51,6 (2014): 1021-40. doi: 10.1007/s13197-011-0584-9 . https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033754/ Abstract: "Finger millet (Eleusine coracana), one of the minor cereals, is known for several health benefits and some of the health benefits are attributed to its polyphenol and dietary fiber contents. It is an important staple food in India for people of low income groups. Nutritionally, its importance is well recognised because of its high content of calcium (0.38%), dietary fiber (18%) and phenolic compounds (0.3–3%). They are also recognized for their health beneficial effects, such as anti-diabetic, anti-tumerogenic, atherosclerogenic effects, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This review deals with the nature of polyphenols and dietary fiber of finger millet and their role with respect to the health benefits associated with millet." * Maharajan T., et al. "Finger Millet [*Eleusine coracana* (L.) Gaertn]: An Orphan Crop With a Potential to Alleviate the Calcium Deficiency in the Semi-arid Tropics of Asia and Africa." *Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems* 5:684447. (2021) doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.684447 . https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.684447/full
From the abstract: "Only a very little research work has been done to understand the Ca accumulation in the grains of finger millet. In this review, we discuss the nutritional importance and health benefits of finger millet. We discuss the studies on Ca sensor, accumulation and transport genes that help to improve the grains of finger millet with special reference to Ca. Improved Ca content in finger millet may help to alleviate the Ca deficiency throughout the world particularly in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa."
The above are but a selection of resources on finger millet. Please feel free to share any items on this grain that you have found to be particularly interesting or informative. Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI) North American Millets Alliance