Little millet is suitable for people of all age groups. Little millet is grown throughout India and is a traditional crop. It is a relative of proso millet but the seeds of little millet are much smaller than proso millet. It is mostly consumed as rice. Any recipe that demands staple rice can be prepared using little millet. It has the smallest grains, so it cooks faster than other millets. Little millet is commonly available across the country as a whole grain. Millet flour can be procured from certain sources or more commonly could be made at home. Practically devoid of grain storage pests, the little millets have indefinite storage life.

Minor millets, with their low carbohydrate content, slow digestibility and low water-soluble gum content have been attributed to improving glucose metabolism. The grains release sugar slowly in the blood and slow down glucose absorption. The dietary fiber and resistant starch in minor millets exhibit hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. Little millet has a significant role in providing nutraceutical components such as phenols, tannins and phytates along with other nutrients. Samai dosa, porridge, paddu and payasam from little millet are few traditional recipes in different millet growing states in India.

Storage and Uses