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What are millets? Why are millets very important food crops in India? Explain with the help of three points.                                                                                                [Delhi 2003]

Answer:

Millets are coarse grains like Ragi, Bajra and Jawar. They are highly nutritious and are generally used by rural people. They can be grown in areas of low rainfall and low to medium fertile soils.

Jawar, bajra and ragi are the important millets grown in India, they have high nutritional value.

Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production. It grows in moist areas. The States are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Bajra grows well in sandy and black soil. Rajasthan is the largest producer of bajra followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra.

Ragi is mostly grown on red, black, sandy. loamy soil. It is rich in iron, calcium, micro nutrients and roughage. Karnataka is the largest producer of ragi, followed by Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.