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Sep 5, 2022

Coarse cereals?

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



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