Millet for Food and Nutritional Security in Drought Prone and Red Laterite Region of Eastern India

Abstract

The red and lateritic zone (RLZ) of Eastern India comprises of south-west part of West Bengal, a part of Odisha and Jahrkhand grimly a low position in respect of yield levels compared to many other parts of India. Soil of this area is poor in inherent fertility status with low to medium available nutrients of phosphorus, potassium and calcium. Most of the lands are located on higher elevation and erosion hazards and gully formation are very common. Monsoon rainfall is erratic or unevenly distributed in this region and, thus partial or even total failure of rainfed crops is very common. The major parts of this zone are rainfed, rice-fallow based mono-cropped and cropping intensity of the region is between 125-130%. This region of India is home of millions of resource-challenged small and marginal farmers having poor food and nutritional vis-à-vis economic security. To alleviate this grim situation of drought prone RLZ of Eastern India, intensification of Rice-fallow by inclusion of suitable crops was one the major challenges due to several bio-physical constraints. In this context, being the climate resilient and drought tolerant crops, millets may be the best choice for the rice-based crop sequence, any fallow and marginal land, agro-forestry system or even for popularizing any millet-based crop sequence for escalating the level of livelihood of the small and marginal farmers of the dry tract of RLZ. The objective is to develop a model using implementing millet-based cropping system to address food and nutritional security for the regions like RLZ of eastern India. Available research data on millet production feasibility in the region was used. A multidisciplinary approach was used for value-addition and small-scale agri-industry. In this present paper, we conceptualized the current status, prospects and research strategies for augmenting the millet production system to improve the food and nutritional security across drought prone and red laterite region of Eastern India. We believe that same model can be applied elsewhere in the world with agro-climatic conditions like RLZ.

Management of Crop Residues for Improving Input Use Efficiency and Agricultural Sustainability

“…The modern intensive agricultural system depends on the heavy application of external inputs. Farmers who practice such modern input-intensive agricultural practices usually follow intensive crop rotation practices, and the lands remain fallow during a crop season in a cropping year [14]. The adoption of intensive agricultural practices coupled with high-yielding varieties and modern irrigation facilities often leads to micronutrient deficiencies and decreased soil fertility.…”

“…Brahmachari et al [32] recommended that the present zero-tillage mulching technology for potato cultivation was very beneficial for the coastal saline zone to retain soil moisture in the dry winter months. In the dry tract, where rainfall is far lower than the mean evaporation, surface residue retention is a potential option for conservation of soil moisture by reducing the capillary loss [14].…”

“…months. In the dry tract, where rainfall is far lower than the mean evaporation, surface residue retention is a potential option for conservation of soil moisture by reducing the capillary loss [14].…”

Nutrient Management in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) in India

“…Millets are a staple food with superior nutritional qualities and used both as food and fodder. In addition, millets sequestrate carbon, thereby adding to CO 2 abatement opportunities, contribute to enhanced agro-biodiversity by their rich varietal diversity, ecologically beneficial (Brahmachari et al 2018), allow for mutually beneficial intercropping with other important crops (Maitra et al 2000). Under the changing scenario of global warming and climate change, cultivation of ecologically sound and hardy millets may be a wise alternative for optimum output with food and nutritional security.…”

Agronomic Management of Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) in India for Production Sustainability:A Review

“…The main effects of climate change are increase in temperature, uncertainties in rainfall and enhancement of greenhouse gasses emission (mainly carbon-dioxide). As C 4 plants, millets can use enhanced atmospheric CO 2 and convert into biomass (Brahmachari et al 2018) In India, the cultivation of foxtail millet is confined southern states, namely, to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telengana, also to some extent grown in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The average productivity of small millets including foxtail millets is less, but presently improved varieties have been developed which are having enough potential.…”