Pearl millet is well adapted to growing areas characterized by drought, low soil fertility, low moisture, and high temperature. It performs well in soils with high salinity or low pH. Because of its tolerance to difficult growing conditions, it can be grown in areas where other cereal crops, such as maize or wheat, would not survive. Pearl millet is a summer annual crop well-suited for double cropping and rotations.The grain and forage are valuable as food and feed resources in Africa, Russia, India and China. Once completely dry, add the millet to a high-powered blender and blitz on high until it turns into a fine powder. The GI is a measure of how much certain foods affect blood sugar levels. Foods that are lower on the glycemic index are usually better choices for people with diabetes ( 17). https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-perfect-millet-every-time-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-185974 Bajra is an ideal winter food, especially for those suffering from asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. The anti-inflammatory properties in Pearl Millet and the presence of Omega-3 oils reduce swelling, clear mucous and aid in proper breathing. Combats Acidity:

Tip: This step is important to ensure you get the finest texture possible, so make sure you don’t miss it out!) 4. Second Round ProcessingThere are a few different types of millet which are available, each with a slightly different nutritional profile: Bajra pearl millet is just one of many types of millet. Some other popular varieties of millet are fonio, finger millet (ragi), Job’s tears, foxtail, and kodo millet.

Also known as 'Bajra' in Hindi, 'Sajje' in Kannada, 'Kambu' in Tamil, 'Sajjalu' in Telugu, 'Bajeer' in Kumaoni, 'Bajri' in Gujarati and 'Maiwa' in Hausa, 'Mexoeira' in Mozambique. [ citation needed], 'Baajri' in Marathi, 'Za' in the Dagbani language of Ghana, 'Zuk' in Tyap of Nigeria, Mawele in Swahili and mwere in Meru languages of Kenya. Mahangu in Kwanyama of Namibia. For example, a food that has 100 calories per 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving would have a calorie density of 1. A food that has 400 calories per 100-gram serving would have a calorie density of 4. Pearl millet is an important food across the Sahel region of Africa. It is a main staple (along with sorghum) in a large region of northern Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. In Nigeria it is usually grown as an intercrop with sorghum and cowpea, the different growth habits, growth period and drought vulnerability of the three crops maximising total productivity and minimising the risk of total crop failure. It is often ground into a flour, rolled into large balls, parboiled, liquefied into a watery paste using fermented milk, and then consumed as a beverage. This beverage, called "fura" in Hausa, is a popular drink in northern Nigeria and southern Niger. Pearl millet is a food widely used in Borno state and its surrounding states, it is the most widely grown and harvested crop. There are many products that are obtained from the processing of the crop. Today pearl millet is grown on over 260,000 square kilometres (100,000sqmi) of land worldwide. It accounts for about 50% of the total world production of millets. [7] Pearl millet is the most widely grown millet and is a very important crop in India and parts of Africa. Provides protein to vegetarians- Those who are vegetarians cannot get the needed protein from meat and fish products. This is where pearl millets come in. The health benefits of bajra include its ability to provide the required protein to vegetarians as well. Bajra flour becomes complete when it is combined with seeds like rajma, moong dal, chana dal, etc.World production of millets has been stable during the 1980s. According to FAO, 39.4million hectares (97million acres) of millet were planted in 1987 with an average production of only 704 kilograms per hectare (628lb/acre). [8] Structure and physical properties [ edit ] Gluten Free – It’s a great alternative to wheat flour for people with celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or anyone following a gluten-free diet. We shifted to gluten-free grains because we realized gluten was causing the bulk of our digestion problems. We knew of rice and quinoa as gluten-free wheat alternatives. Rice is fine but quinoa is expensive in India. Using it every day was not working out. Also, I like to use a variety of grains for everyday meals. Millets are perfect! Right around our little town of Udaipur, there are so many different types of millets crops. We easily connected with the farmers and now I buy trusted organic millets right from the source. Millets are still not very common in Indian households but awareness about health benefits of millets is slowly increasing.

A staple in Indian cuisine, Bajra Rotiis a gluten-free flatbread made from finely ground Pearl Millet flour. These Instant Roti's need no leavening, just flour, water, and a little bit of practice. Here is mom's step-by-step recipe with all her tips and a video showing how to make perfect Bajra Roti at home. Jump to: Kumar N, Kumar A (2020) Biofortification: a plausible antidote to India’s hidden hunger problem. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI Blog) Prevents Constipation- Benefits of bajra include promoting good gut health. In simpler terms, consuming the pearl millets will make sure you keep constipation at a distance. The reason behind this is the presence of insoluble fibre in bajra.

Risks of eating millet

McDonough, C.; Rooney, L. (1989-01-01). "Structural Characteristics of Pennisetum Americanum (Pearl Millet) Using Scanning Electron and Fluorescence Microscopy". Food Structure. 8 (1). While millets are technically seeds, they function like a whole grain, which means that you can cook it like you would rice. S. Nithiyanantham, P. Kalaiselvi, M.F. Mahomoodally, G. Zengin, A. Abirami, G. Srinivasan, J. Food Biochem. 43(7), 12859 (2019) While you can certainly buy store-bought millet flour, it may not be as easily found as other types of gluten-free flours.

Shift in focus of breeding from productivity improvement to the identification of end product-specific traits. Nutritious baby food – Pearl millets are easily digested and well tolerated by little ones which make them a mandatory ingredient for baby food preparations during the weaning period and even later on.Yet, bajra flour is not limited to flatbreads alone. It can also be used to make cakes and pasta or as a replacement for other types of flour in many recipes.