Review on Browntop Millet- A Forgotten Crop

Abstract

Browntop millet is a warm season crop and it can produce heavy seeds compared to other millets. This crop grown on a variety of soils and climates. It can be used as a wild life food crop, livestock grazing crop, for erosion control, hay production and also as a food grain crop. Millets are the major food source in arid and semi-arid parts of the world. Although India is the top most producers of millets, observed a steady decline in its production and utilization. Brown top millets provide nearly all essential nutrients. Brown top millet referred as miracle or positive crop for the dry and rainfed situations. The Brown top millet is known for its rapid forage production. It is grown for several other purposes like cover crop in plantation crop for soil erosion control and for high straw production. It suppresses root-knot nematode in the soil. This millet can be recommended in daily diet, there is a need to encourage the farming community to grow this crop thus contributing in achieving nutrition security. The nutrient content of browntop millet is on par with other millets and cultivation of this crop is also easier. Hence, there is an urgent need to popularize this millet.