Millet

Millet is a group of small-seeded cereal grains, including pearl, finger, foxtail, and proso millet, grown widely in Africa and Asia for their drought tolerance and short growing seasons. The grains are gluten-free, rich in fiber, minerals such as iron and magnesium, and B vitamins, and are eaten as porridges, flatbreads, couscous-like dishes, and fermented foods. In North Africa the name also denotes a steamed granular dish made from millet flour, traditionally served with a stew of lamb, chicken, chickpeas, and vegetables. Their hardiness and nutrition have made millets a focus of food-security and climate-resilient agriculture programs, with 2023 declared the International Year of Millets.