Brown Top Millet is a staple food of southern India. This fast-growing crop is known as Korale in Kannada and Andakorra in Telugu. Brown Top millet is also grown and consumed in limited quantities in north-central India. The scientific name of the crop is Urochloa ramose and the common name is Dixie signal grass. Along with India, the United States, Africa, western Asia, Arabia, China, and Australia also harvest this crop.
Cultivation
The planting time for Brown Top millet is from April to August in most locations. For a better yielding, the seeds must be sowed one inch below the topsoil. Five kilograms of Brown Top millet seeds are required each acre. Seeds get germinate by the fifth day of sowing. Farmers get seven to eight quintal grains per acre.
The crop matures within 60-70 days. The Brown Top seeds have very hard outer covers which make processing the seeds difficult than cultivation. The crop survives under dry conditions and has the potential to spread as well as to adapt to climate change.
Nutritional values
The nutrient analysis of Brown Top millet showed that I00 gm of Brown Top millet contains 11.9 grams of moisture, 8.89 grams of protein, 1.89 grams of fat, 8.20 gram of crude fiber, 71.32 gram of carbohydrate and 338.0 Kcal of energy. The mineral compositions of millet are 28.0 mg, 7.72 mg, 276 mg, 60.0 mg, 94.5 mg, 1.99 mg, 7.60 mg, 2.5 mg and 1.23 mg for calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, zinc and copper respectively.
Health benefits
- a) Millets are anti acidic and gluten-free and it detoxifies the body
- b) Niacin (vitamin B3) in millet can help lower cholesterol, also the grains helps in optimizing kidney, liver and immune system health.
- c) Effective in reducing blood pressure
- d) Reduces the risk of gastrointestinal conditions like gastric ulcers or colon cancer, stomach issues like; constipation, excess gas, bloating and cramping, heart diseases; respiratory conditions such as asthma; and also Prevents breast cancer and type 2 diabetes.
How to include in a diet
In India, Brown Top millet is consumed in forms of rice and roti. But one can use it as batter for Idli, Kheer, and Upma also. This crop is also used as bird food or fodder.
Conclusion
Brown Top Millet has very good medicinal value and with easy cultivation process. But in India, it is still confined to certain regions and reached the verge of extinction. Introducing it to the mainstream Indian food culture will help in solving issues related to food, malnutrition, etc., which are turning out to be one of the main problems in India.
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