Millets as a commons? The dilemma between millet marketing and millets‘ potential to combat malnutrition

Abstract

Millets are a group of small seeded annual grasses that are botanically different, have different use value and nutrient content, and are differently cultivated. Predominantly, millets are cultivated in Asian and African regions, where little rainfall and irrigation is available (ICRISAT and FAO 1996; Fischer et al. 2016; Makkar et al. 2019). Indian people have consumed millets for about 5000 years. However, millets are also regarded as “poor man’s food” in contrast to rice as “rich man’s food” (Chera 2017; Finnis 2008; Morrison 2016).

Recently, however, researchers and NGO activists have been emphasizing the special attributes of millets to address India’s current problems. The country suffers from the double burden of malnutrition, a term that refers to the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition within the country (FAO 2006). Because of their favourable nutrient content, millets could play an important role in addressing undernutrition. At the same time, millets could help combat diabetes due to its low glycaemic index (Kam et al. 2016; Pradhan et al. 2019). To benefit from these attributes, NGOs and recently the Indian government are trying to revive millets for producers and consumers. In parallel with these attempts, millets have become increasingly popular within the urban middle class, who hope that the grain can support them in losing bodyweight (Chera 2017; Erler et al. 2020).

NGOs have used this popularity to establish market links with urban areas. There, millets and value-added millet products have been marketed to health-conscious middle-class people (Erler et al. 2020; Finnis 2012).

So far, the production volume of millets in India is not sufficient to ensure a daily intake of millets for the entire Indian population (Makkar et al. 2019). On the one hand, current efforts to establish market linkages between rural millet producers and the urban middle class suggest that the urban middle class may be the first to benefit from millets and their health-promoting properties. Since millets have the potential to combat hidden hunger, it seems unethical to market millet as a lifestyle product. On the other hand, millet farmers could benefit financially from market linkages with solvent buyers. If growing millets becomes financially rewarding, this could lead to more farmers choosing to grow millets. Consequently, the national production volume of millets could increase enabling a daily intake of millets for the entire population. Despite these possible developments, the current low production volumes may lead to competition between rural and urban millet consumers.

This situation calls for policies ensuring access for malnourished segments of the population when millets are simultaneously marketed as a commodity to urban consumers (Makkar et al. 2019).

Based on an analysis of policy documents this contribution attempts to answer whether India is politically prepared for the described dilemma.