Abstract

Millets are recently recognized as ‘nutri-cereals’ due to their superiority in terms of dietary value to other cereals. India has the heritage to grow different kinds of millets since the ancient time. Different small millets have unique quality to combat with the extreme climatic conditions which are more relevant as adaptation option in the present scenario of issues related to global warming and climate change. The production sustainability is must considering the growing population of the world and it is a major concern in developing countries with more population. The small millets can play important role in this regard as these are ecologically sound, belong to C4 group of plants, tolerant to different adverse climatic conditions including drought and can produce a moderate yield for food and nutritional sustainability. Amongst different small millets, the importance brown-top millet has recognized recently as it has huge potential to make faring in resource-poor and fragile ecological conditions and thus can ensure economic and nutritional security as well as production sustainability of smallholders. But it is astonishing that sufficient research has not been carried out and information is not available and ample scope is there for future research to exploit the potential of the crop. An attempt has been made to gather information on brown-top millet on the basis of experimental results as well as available literature.