India is the world's biggest producer of millets, and a major exporter of many of these (in North America we see a number of Indian millets packaged for consumers). It was also the country that led the effort to proclaim the International Year of Millets. So how are things going with millets in India? Here are 4 items which paint a broadly positive situation, altho with some challenges.

"Millets Are Making a Comeback in India: These hardy, drought-resistant and nutritious grains disappeared from fields in the 1960s. Now, the country is working to revive them," by Charukesi Ramadurai, Reasons to be Cheerful, November 11, 2024 https://reasonstobecheerful.world/millets-making-comeback-india/

Nice overview of the situation with millets in India. Among the experts quoted is Dr. Amrita Hazra, of the IISER in Pune, India, who was founder of the Berkely, CA based The Millet Project.

"Millet revolution: Why one of the world’s oldest grains is back on India’s dining tables," The Federal, 11 Nov. 2024 https://thefederal.com/category/features/millet-revolution-why-one-of-the-worlds-oldest-grains-is-back-on-indias-dining-tables-155447

Another overview, including mention of some of the challenges emerging with the rise of popularity of millets. For example, demand for millets in urban areas has raised prices, affecting accessibility by those who depend on them as staples.

"Bengaluru to host three-day 'Organics and Millets' fair from Jan 23," Deccan Herald, 20 Jan. 2025 https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/city-to-host-three-day-organics-and-millets-fair-from-jan-23-3364672

Bengaluru (aka Bangalore) is the capital of Karnataka state in India, and "Karnataka has been promoting organic farming as a sustainable alternative for the past two decades and organised its first organics and millet trade fair in 2017." This event last month was the latest in a series of fairs.

"Smart Foods for Smarter Policies: Millets in India’s Public Distribution System," ICRISAT Media Release, January 28, 2025 https://pressroom.icrisat.org/smart-foods-for-smarter-policies-millets-in-indias-public-distribution-system (Thanks to Lauren Swann, MS, RD, LDN, for calling our attention to this item)

"As India intensifies efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition, the Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI) and ICRISAT are helping policymakers with evidence-based strategies to include millet in the Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food subsidies to low-income families."  It seems like this PDS program might help redress the accessibility issues where  prices of millets have risen.. (For more on the Tata-Cornell Institute, see https://tci.cornell.edu/ )


Don Osborn, PhD
(East Lansing, MI, US)
North American Millets Alliance