India’s ancient forgotten food grain (millet) is quickly evolving into a nutrient-dense, naturally gluten-free, low glycaemic index superfood of the future in this international year of millets (2023). Millets the nutri-cereals are packed with energy protein, and minerals and can fight with diabetes, heart disease and malnutrition. India celebrated 2018 as the year of millet to exhibit the importance of millet. Based on the size of a grain, millets are classified into two classes called major and minor millets by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). According to the FSSAI, Major millets are Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi/Mandua), Minor Millets i.e. Foxtail Millet (Kangani/Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Kodo Millet (Kodo), Barnyard Millet (Sawa/Sanwa/ Jhangora), Little Millet (samai, Kutki) and two Pseudo Millets (Buck-wheat (Kuttu) and Ameranthus (Chaulai). Millets are annual crops that can withstand both drought and waterlogging conditions belonging to the Poaceae family. They are rainfed crops, with hardy and small edible grains.

 

Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense) is one of the important crops for both food and feed. Even though it is smaller than other grains, it has high iron, antioxidants, and about 38% of dietary fibre.  From the tribal people in the Eastern Ghats of India, it spread to Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Myanmar. It is suited for all age groups of people and helps to prevent constipation and stomach-related problems. The cholesterol present in this little millet helps to strengthen the body of the kids. It is very helpful for diabetic patients since it has complex carbohydrates which digest slowly. Its high fibre helps to reduce fat deposits in the body. Also, Little millet has a significant role in providing nutraceutical components such as phenols, tannins and phytates along with other nutrients.

 

 

The nutrient value of little millet per 100-gram grain

 

Nutrient	Quantity
Calories	329kcal
Protein	9.7 gram
Carbohydrate	60.9 gram
Fat	5.2 gram
Mineral	1.7 gram
Iron	9.3 mg
Fiber	7.6 grams
Calcium	17mg
Thiamine	0.30 mg
Riboflavin	0.09 mg
Niacin	3.2 mg

 

Botanical Description:

 

Botanical name: Panicum sumatrense (36)

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Monocots

Clade: Commelinids

Order: Poales

Family: Poaceae

Subfamily: Panicoideae

Genus: Panicum

Species: P. sumatrense

 

Description :

 

It is an annual herbaceous plant, native to India which grows straight or with folded blades to a height of 30 centimetres (12 in) to 1 metre (39 in). The leaves are linear, with sometimes hairy laminae and membranous hairy ligules. The panicles are from 4 to 15 cm (1.6 to 5.9 in) in length with 2 to 3.5 mm (0.079 to 0.138 in) long awn. The grain is round and smooth, 1.8 to 1.9 mm (0.071 to 0.075 in) long.

 

Subspecies :

1- Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult. subsp. psilopodium (Trin.)Wet.

2- Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult. subsp. Sumatrense

 

Cultivation :

 

The largest cultivation is in central India. Little millet can be grown on a wide range of soils including waterlogged soils. Deep, loamy, fertile soils rich in organic matter are preferred for satisfactory growth. It can withstand salinity and alkalinity to some extent. Usually, it is planted using a seed drill. Spacing: 25-30 cm (row to row), 8 – 10 cm (plant to plant). The seed should be planted 2-3 cm in depth. Seed rate: 8-10 kg/ha for line sowing and 12- 15 kg/ha for broadcasting. It can be cultivated in both the rabi and kharif seasons. Manuring and fertilization: Application of Compost or farmyard manure @ 5-10 tonnes/ha about a month before sowing. Generally, fertilizers recommended to get a good crop are 40 kg Nitrogen, 20 kg P₂O₅ and 20 kg K₂O per ha. Soil test-based fertilizers application is recommended. Application of the entire quantity of P₂O₅ and half of Nitrogen at the time of sowing and the remaining half of Nitrogen at first irrigation. The green plant can also be used in part as cattle feed. Intercropping is also possible with sesamum/soybean/pigeon peas (2:1 row ratio). The straw can be mixed with clay or cement to be used in construction. The harvest yield is from 230 to 900 kg/ha.

 

Little millet varieties of India

 

State	Varieties
Orissa	OLM 203, OLM 208 and OLM 217
Madhya Pradesh	JK 4, JK 8 and JK 36
Andhra Pradesh	OLM 203 and JK 8
Tamilnadu	Paiyur 2, TNAU 63, CO-3, CO-4, K1, OLM 203, OLM 20
Chhattisgarh	JK 8, BL 6, BL-4, JK 36
Karnataka	OLM 203, JK 8
Gujarat	GV 2, GV 1, OLM 203, JK 8
Maharashtra	Phule Ekadashi, JK 8, OLM 203

 

Benefits of Samai:

 

1. Among cereals, Samai has been found to have the highest amount of fibre. Its crude fibre content is nearly twice that of other cereals.

2. Samai is rich in phenolic compounds that show antioxidant activity.

3. This millet is an excellent source of Iron. One serving (30 g) can provide 16% of the daily iron needs of an adult man.

4. Like other millets, Samai is also gluten-free. It makes up for the lack of wholegrain fibre in Celiac (gluten-free) diets.

5. Samai has a low to medium glycaemic index and thus is diabetic friendly.

6. It is a rich source of the essential amino acids Histidine, Methionine, and Phenylalanine.

 

Reference:

 

https://theindianmed.com/saamai-little-millet-nutrition-benefits-and-recipe/

W. Franke, (1985): Nutzpflanzenkunde. Stuttgart.

H. Genaust: Etymologisches Wörterbuch der botanischen Pflanzennamen. 3. Aufl., 701 S. Basel-Boston-Stuttgart, 1996.