Foxtail millet is thought to have originated in China, where it has been cultivated since 5000 BC.
It most likely migrated from Central China’s highlands to India and Europe. It’s now available all around the world.
China and India are the two most important industrial hubs.
Foxtail millet is found in upland parts of East Africa, Cameroon, and southern Africa in Africa.
It has become marginal in Europe, where it was farmed as a summer crop until the 17th century, and Central Europe is now the main area of production.
It is extremely adaptable, growing from sea level to a height of 2000 meters.
Foxtail millet, production figures are frequently blended with those of other millets, they are sparse.
In the early 1990s, foxtail millet (5 million tonnes) was expected to account for around 18% of grain millet output, with China being the leading producer.
Processes
The grain is vulnerable to heating in storage after harvest, resulting in spoilage. As a result, it should be completely dried.
Before storing the grain, the husks should be removed since they attract insects.
Dehusking can be accomplished by pounding the grains with a pestle in a mortar, or by utilizing rice processing equipment such as a cone polisher or a centrifugal sheller.
Forage management
Foxtail millet can be grown as a stand-alone crop or as part of a rotation with legumes, cotton, or other cereals like sorghum or other millets (for example finger millet).
It is primarily a rainfed crop, but it also thrives under irrigation. It takes less than 90 days for a plant to reach maturity.
By cutting off the panicles and threshing the grains, they can be harvested manually or mechanically (trampling by cattle or stone roller).
Foxtail millet yields 800-900 kg grain per hectare (up to 1800 kg in China) and 2.5 t straw per hectare when harvested for grain. In China, grain yields under irrigation have reached 11 t/ha in tests.
Environmental impact
It can be grown in contour strips for erosion management because it is a fast-growing species.
It’s also good for the “Forest Reclamation Approach,” which involves planting tree seedlings among fast-growing grasses.
The grass provides protection for seedlings that can develop beneath it, which is useful.
During its first year, however, foxtail millet can limit native species recruitment and attract rodents and deer, which can be damaging to tree seedlings.
Nutritional value
Foxtail millet, like other millets, is a nutritional powerhouse.
These tiny seeds, which are high in Vitamin B12, can provide you with a daily dosage of adequate protein, excellent fat, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber.
It also contains a lot of calcium, along with a lot of lysine, thiamine, iron, and niacin.
Foxtail millets in Ayurveda
Millets are called in Ayurveda as Trinadhanya or Kudhanya.
Foxtail millets are described as sweet and astringent to taste in ancient Ayurvedic writings like Mahodadhi, authored by Sushena in the 14th century, and as increasing Vata dosha while balancing doshas connected to pitta, Kapha, and blood tissues.
Millets must be thoroughly cooked to reap the maximum advantages. However, this millet should never be mixed with milk because it might induce severe indigestion.
Production in India
Foxtail millet is an annual grass that is cultivated for human consumption.
The earliest evidence of foxtail millet production was discovered along the Yellow River’s ancient channel in Cishan, China, and carbon-dated to 8700 BC.
In India, foxtail millet has been farmed since antiquity and was used as a staple grain until three to four decades ago.
It is currently grown extensively in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
The world’s total production is 2.29 million metric tonnes (MT) from an area of 1.057 million hectares.
Kakum in Hindi, Navane in Kannada, Kang in Gujrati, Kaon in Bengali, Kangni in Punjabi, Korralu in Telugu, Thina in Malayalam, Kang in Marathi, and Thinai in Tamil are some of the vernacular names for Foxtail millet.
