Product Information
Barnyard millet (Echinochloa species) is tiny, white, round grain, bigger in size than suji (semolina) grown widely in hilly, and tastes almost like broken rice when cooked. The millet is an ancient crop grown in warm and temperate regions of the world and widely cultivated in Asia, and India is the biggest producer of barnyard millet, both in terms of area (0.146 m ha–1) and production (0.147 MT) globally. Barnyard millet is used as a livestock feed, though it is primarily cultivated for human consumption, is a short duration crop that can grow in adverse environmental conditions, and can withstand various biotic and abiotic stresses. Besides these agronomic advantages, the grains are valued for their high nutritional value and lower expense as compared to major cereals like rice, wheat, and maize.
Uses
To the babies of 6-8 months of age, barnyard millet can be given as porridge or kheer and for the babies of one year and toddlers; it can be given as idlis, dosa or cheela. However, barnyard millets can also be used to prepare upma, khichdi, and pulav.
Applications
In Asia, Barnyard millet (Echinochloa species) is an important millet crops in Asia, comprises of two major species, Echinochloa esculenta and Echinochloa frumentacea, which are less susceptible to biotic and abiotic stresses and predominantly cultivated for human consumption and livestock feed, as a good source of protein, carbohydrate, fiber, and, most notably, contains more micronutrients (iron and zinc) than other major cereals.
