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oai:figshare.com:article/34038198 2026-10-01T04:32:05Z category_575 portal_316 item_type_3 month_year_10_2026

Table 1_Small millets in India: a review of nutritional security, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.docx Anuradha Narala (25151850) Chikkulapally Shekhar (25151853) Shaik Muneer (25151856) Boniga Mohan Uday Raj (25151859) Adi Srinivas (25151862) Swarna Ronanki (25151865) Deepika Cheruk (25151868) Rayirala Rakesh (25151871) Hanuman Singh Jatav (25151874) Rathod Sridhar (25151877) C. Tara Satyavathi (4906483) Food Packaging, Preservation and Safety climate resilience food security millet policies nutritional security small millets sustainable livelihoods value addition women empowerment <p>Small millets (Setaria italica, Panicum sumatrense, Paspalum scrobiculatum, Echinochloa frumentacea, Panicum miliaceum and Brachiaria ramosa) are emerging as climate-resilient, nutrient-dense crops with considerable potential to address food insecurity, malnutrition, environmental degradation and livelihood vulnerabilities. Although these crops have long been cultivated under diverse agroecological conditions, their production and consumption declined following the dominance of rice and wheat-based production systems during the Green Revolution. This systematic literature review synthesizes current evidence on the nutritional composition, climate resilience, socio-economic importance, value addition, market opportunities, institutional support and policy interventions related to small millets in India. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for systematic literature identification, screening and study selection. Literature published up to June 2026 was systematically retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, CAB Abstracts, AGRICOLA and Google Scholar, together with relevant reports from national and international organizations. After applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 150 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The evidence indicates that small millets are rich sources of dietary fibre, quality protein, essential minerals, vitamins and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids, contributing to nutritional security and reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases. Their tolerance to drought, heat stress, poor soil fertility and low-input production systems makes them highly suitable for climate-smart and sustainable agriculture. Beyond their agronomic and nutritional advantages, small millets support the livelihoods of tribal and marginal farming communities, strengthen indigenous knowledge systems and enhance household food security. The review further highlights the significant role of women in millet cultivation, processing, value addition and marketing, as well as the contributions of self-help groups and farmer organizations to rural development and income generation. Advances in processing technologies, product diversification, entrepreneurship and export opportunities have enhanced the economic potential of the millet sector. National and international initiatives, including the International Year of Millets 2023, millet missions, nutrition-sensitive programmes and institutional interventions, have further accelerated millet promotion. However, challenges such as low productivity, inadequate processing infrastructure, weak market linkages, limited consumer awareness and policy implementation gaps continue to constrain wider adoption. Addressing these challenges through increased research, value chain strengthening, gender-inclusive interventions, market expansion and supportive policy frameworks will be essential for integrating small millets into sustainable food systems and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals related to food and nutritional security, climate resilience, environmental sustainability and inclusive rural livelihoods.</p> 2026-10-01T04:32:05Z Dataset Dataset 10.3389/fsufs.2026.1919531.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Table_1_Small_millets_in_India_a_review_of_nutritional_security_climate_resilience_and_sustainable_livelihoods_docx/34038198 CC BY 4.0