Foxtail millet, or Setaria italica, is one of the most widely planted millets. Its vivid name refers to the shape of its seedhead, resembling a fleecy tail. It is an important esculent species in East Asia and has been grown in India since ancient times. It has been a staple diet of people living in arid and semi-arid regions of India, China and Southeast Asia. The recent increase in availability of locally produced rice and the lack of awareness about this species’ high nutritional value started to dislodge millets and hence led to a decline in the production of Foxtail millet. This crop can be a strong contributor to the local nutrition in dryland regions of India and other Southeast Asian countries. Therefore, raising yields of foxtail millet and promoting it on local markets will largely contribute to biodiversity and livelihood of local populations.
Foxtail millet can be cultivated from the sea level up to the altitudes of 2000m. Its ability to grow in conditions of limited rainfall, dry or poorly fertilized soil and its resistance to pests and diseases makes this crop economically beneficial for local farmers. This species has short maturation period and hence can be used as a relay crop. The small size of seeds allows to easily store it for longer periods of time, making foxtail millet a potential contributor to resilience of the local populations in the seasons of crop failure. Moreover, this crop valuable hay and fodder for cattle due to its abundance of grassiness.
Foxtail millet grain is a rich source of nutrients and vitamins. Its grains outstrip rice and similar cereals with high content of minerals such as iron, zinc and calcium. It has high concentration of non-starchy fibres and hence a very low glycaemic index. Regular consumption of Foxtail millet leads to a significant fall in blood glucose, making it a good diet alternative to help manage and prevent diabetes. However, Foxtail millet and other millet species should be promoted within a balanced diet, including other food groups, as their nutrient contributions cannot solely provide a complete range of necessary elements.
Foxtail millet grains mature within less than 90 days and can be harvested manually or mechanically. During harvesting, the panicles need to be cut off and then threshed. This species of millets is susceptible to heating in storage, which results in its spoiling. The remaining husks can attract unwanted insects. Therefore, before storing the grains must be thoroughly dehusked and dried.
This cereal is consumed in a wide variety of ways. It can be cooked as rice, milled to flour or malted. It can be eaten as bhaat, a hearty porridge, or used to brew alcoholic beverages. For example, foxtail millet cooked with milk and sugar as a pudding kheer makes an excellent dessert. Its fermented grains are used to make vinegar and wine in China, and to produce beer in Russia and Myanmar. Sprouted seeds are eaten as vegetable. Foxtail millet is also used by rural populations as cheaper feed for livestock and birds
Through three project phases “Enhancing the Contribution of Neglected and Underutilized Species to Food Security and to Incomes of the Rural Poor”; “Empowering the rural poor by strengthening their identity, income opportunities and nutritional security through the improved use and marketing of neglected and underutilized species”; “Reinforcing the resilience of poor rural communities in the face of food insecurity, poverty and climate change through on-farm conservation of local agrobiodiversity”, all supported by IFAD in 2001-2015, Bioversity International and ASA have been acting to increase the millet cultivation in Tamil Nadu. Despite high nutritional qualities and ability to produce under critical conditions, millets are not used fully to their potential. Its wider use can contribute to climate change adaptation of the local populations and build more resilient, nutritious food systems. The Project focuses on the entire value chain of millets from increasing supply to creating demand. Multiple stakeholders are being consulted and involved to devise pro-poor and gender-sensitive value chain interventions. Main actions include training women on processing methods and novel recipes, investigating and introducing processing technology to reduce drudgery, and building collective action and communication among stakeholders to improve the organization of the value chains and farmers’ income. By raising the awareness on the benefits of Foxtail millet for nutrition and climate resilience, the Project aims to increase the demand and consumption of this valuable crop within the involved communities. Read more about our work on Foxtail millet here:
IFAD NUS I & II (2001 - 2010)
IFAD NUS III & IV (2011 - 2015)
