Our Journey of Discovering Millets as Entrepreneurs

Why Millets Matter: Ecological and Economic Benefits

Before venturing into promoting millet as a healthy and sustainable food option, we asked ourselves an important question: Do millets truly contribute to the ecological and economic security of our country?

Through our experiments and experiences, we discovered that millets are not only nutritious but also resilient crops that support both environmental sustainability and food security.

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How It All Began

The year was 1997, Pune. My husband and I had two young children to look after. Naturally, Ragi Sattva was our favourite choice. But our children hardly liked it, which temporarily paused our millet experiments.

With busy professional lives, we weren’t fully aware of how to cook with millet. We mostly relied on wheat chapatis and rice, occasionally making bajra bhakri — which our kids systematically refused.

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The Turning Point: 2015

In 2015, my husband felt drawn to agriculture and farmlands in the Konkan region. Despite being at the peak of his professional career, he embarked on a journey of experimentation with vegetables, fruits, and other crops on his arid land — while managing his full-time job in Pune.

Success was limited until 2019, the year we rediscovered millets. Although these grains have been around since ancient times, they had practically vanished from neighboring farms, replaced almost entirely by rice plantations.

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Why We Fell in Love With Millets

Millets are:

• Extremely easy to grow

• Highly nutritious (“superfoods”)

• Resilient to harsh climates

However, our neighbors were skeptical. Commercial value for millets was almost nonexistent, as many were still grown primarily for animal fodder.

Recognizing this knowledge gap, we decided to start Sonkan Foods, promoting millets for human consumption — primarily Ragi (Finger Millet) and Varai (Proso Millet).

Did you know there are over 6,000 varieties of millet, but only a few are commercially grown in India? This leaves plenty of room for exploration!

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Common Millet Types Consumed in India

(Spot the common points in these 9 millet types – answer at the bottom!)

1. Finger Millet (Ragi)

• Description: Robust, tufted, annual grass with finger-like spikes.

• Uses: Porridge, flatbreads, sweets, breakfast cereals, energy bars, and cakes.

• Also Known As: Ragi (Kannada, Telugu, Hindi), Nachani (Marathi), Kodra (Himachal Pradesh), Mandia (Oriya), Kezhvaragu (Tamil).

• Grown In: Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat.

2. Barnyard Millet

• Description: Multi-purpose, hardy crop, grows in warm, moderately humid climates.

• Uses: Human consumption and animal fodder.

• Also Known As: Sanwa, Jhangora, Kuthiravali, Oodalu, Udalu, Kodisama.

• Grown In: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar.

3. Foxtail Millet

• Description: One of the world’s oldest cultivated crops; fast-maturing cash crop.

• Uses: Human consumption and poultry feed.

• Also Known As: Kangni, Kakum, Kang, Tenai, Navane, Korra, Kaon.

• Grown In: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Northeast India.

4. Sorghum

• Description: Warm-season crop, resistant to pests, intolerant of low temperatures.

• Uses: Popular cereal in India.

• Also Known As: Jwari, Jowar, Cholam, Jola, Jonna.

• Grown In: Maharashtra, Karnataka; India ranks fifth in global sorghum production.

5. Pearl Millet (Bajra)

• Description: Highly drought-tolerant, grows in low-fertility soils, ancient crop.

• Uses: Flatbreads, porridge, staple food in arid regions.

• Also Known As: Bajra, Bajri, Sajja, Sajji.

• Grown In: Western and central India, drier tropics.

6. Browntop Millet

• Description: Rare millet, drought-hardy, shade-loving, early-maturing (75–80 days).

• Uses: Human food, fodder.

• Also Known As: Hari Kangni, Hari Kang, Palapul, Korale, Andakorra, Chama Pothaval.

• Grown In: Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border, native to India.

7. Kodo Millet

• Description: Hardy, drought-tolerant, survives on marginal soils.

• Uses: Staple food in Deccan plateau.

• Also Known As: Kodra, Varagu, Harka, Arikelu, Koovaragu.

• Grown In: UP, Kerala, Tamil Nadu; also in Nepal, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, West Africa.

8. Proso Millet (Varai)

• Description: Quick-maturing, low water requirement, ideal for drylands.

• Uses: Human food, minor millet cash crop.

• Also Known As: Varai, Barri, Chena, Pani Varagu, Baragu, Variga.

• Grown In: Madhya Pradesh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka.

9. Little Millet

• Description: Short-duration, drought and waterlogging resistant, highly adaptable.

• Uses: Food and fodder for all age groups.

• Also Known As: Kutki, Shavan, Gajro, Samai, Same, Samalu.

• Grown In: Tribal belts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh; also Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar.

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The Common Thread Among All Millets

All these millet types share one key similarity: they grow almost anywhere without compromising nutritional value.

In a world facing rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and increasing droughts, millets can play a vital role in food security and sustainable agriculture in India.

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Ready to Transition to a Wholesome and Sustainable Diet?

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