The October millet-of-the-month is kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum; sometimes called ricegrass paspalum or ditch millet; FR, herbe à épée; ES, mijo koda) apparently comes from West Africa, but is a cultivated crop mainly in India as well as in some other south Asian countries. No clear info on cultivation in Africa, but it is a known wild food.

Kodo is present in North America, but not a crop anywhere to our knowledge. In parts of the US it is actually classified as a noxious weed. It is an invasive species.

Kodo has a somewhat longer season than other millets, and is said to have a higher yield potential than other small millets. Although like other millets, it is tolerant of drought, it seems to prefer somewhat more humid conditions. However, dampness at time of harvest may lead to contamination of grains.

Food grade kodo millet is imported to North America as packaged grain and flour, as well as some processed products. These come primarily or perhaps exclusively from India. These can be purchased online and at many grocery stores specializing in South Asian foods.

Nutrition is comparable to most other millets. Taste is not "nutty," in my estimation, but a bit "flatter" (more like rice). Better descriptions are welcome.

References:
* Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paspalum_scrobiculatum
* Neglected & Underutilized Species Community http://www.nuscommunity.org/nus/neglected-underutilized-species/kodo-millet/
* Kew Botanic Gardens https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:414702-1
* Encyclopedia of Life (photos of the plant, many of them from Hawaii; other locations incl. NSW, Australia & Zimbabwe) https://eol.org/pages/1114553/media
* CABI Plantwise Plus https://plantwiseplusknowledgebank.org/doi/10.1079/pwkb.species.38955
* Lost Crops of Africa, Vol. 1 (Grains), p. 249 (download link for chapter) https://nap.nationalacademies.org/cart/download.cgi?record_id=2305&file=237-250
* APEDA, Govt. of India (nutritive value of kodo millet, with bried intro) https://apeda.gov.in/milletportal/Kodo_Millet.html
* Science Direct (several articles) https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/paspalum-scrobiculatum
* Global Invasive Species Database http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1423
* Journal of Food Science Technology (potential mycotoxin contamination of kodo harvested in damp conditions) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9206982/

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