International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Amrutha Basavaraju, MH Shankara, R Vinay Kumar, AS Shashi Kiran and TL Mohan Kumar

abstract
Small-seeded cereals in the Poaceae family include little millets, which are referred to as nutri cereals. The most widely grown types of these include finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, and little millet. There are about 35 grass species from 20 genera that are categorized as small millets. Minor millets are also abundant in critical micronutrients such fiber, B vitamins, tryptophan, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and manganese, which the body uses as antioxidants. Notably, minor millets demonstrate a remarkable potential to tolerate extreme climatic conditions and thrive in settings of limited water supply. It is crucial to create new, high-yielding strategies and put them into practice to extend the cultivation of these crops in order to improve nutritional security and to adopt new technologies and maintain rainfed agriculture.