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Coarse cereals are a broad sub-group of several short duration warm weather (Kharif) crops such as Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl Millet), Maize, Ragi (Finger Millet) etc. They are used in food, fodder, fuel; value added products and also fast-food products.
Sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, maize and small millets (barnyard millet, proso millet, kodo millet and foxtail millet) are also called nutri-cereals.
This are grown in areas with high temperature and are called dryland crops because can be grown in areas with 50-100 cm rainfall. These crops are less sensitive to soil deficiencies and can be grown in inferior alluvial or loamy soil.
features: -
It helps in generating employment in low rainfall areas where other alternative crops are limited, and these crops are used as a contingent crop.
Coarse cereals are known for nutria-rich content and having characteristics like drought tolerance, photo-insensitivity and resilient to climate change etc.
Their cultivation in drought prone areas for providing food for human consumption, feed & fodder for animal and poultry, use as fuel and industrial uses are common.
FOCUS Towards Coarse cereals: -
Climate change has affected the production of wheat and paddy in the country, indicating a need to shift focus to coarse cereals. Cultivation of the wheat and paddy will not be enough to meet the country’s food needs due to erratic weather patterns.
Monsoon of 2022 has increased the government’s concern for the Kharif season yield.
The cost of cultivation is less compared to summer paddy cultivation and also it requires lesser quantum of water for irrigation.
About 50 million Tonnes of coarse cereals are produced in the country at present.
Maize and millets are grown the most.
USES OF COARSE CEREALS: -
The demand for coarse cereals for animals and poultry feed is on the rise.
Maize is the preferred carbohydrate source in poultry feed.
sorghum: Used in Malting. High fructose syrup,etc
Maize: Used in Brewing, starch, bakery, poultry and animal feed, bio-fuel.
BY KHAS
