India's millet consumption conundrum: A snapshot from the urban slums of eastern Odisha.

Abstract

Introduction: Millets are small-seeded cereal grains that are highly nutritious, rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and can be grown on arid lands with minimal inputs. Odisha Millets Mission (OMM) is the unique flagship program the Government of Odisha launched in 2017-18 promoting millet consumption. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards millet consumption among women residing in an urban slum and to identify the barriers and facilitators in the adoption of millet in daily diet.

Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Urban slum areas of Bhubaneswar. A diverse population of 316 adult women was recruited, including 32 AWWs and their helpers from our study area from August to October 2023. A self-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and administered to the study participants.

Results: All 316 participants demonstrated knowledge about millets, with Ragi being the most commonly recognized type. Among the participants, 222 (70.3%) were currently consuming millet in household practice. A significant majority, 93.4%, believed millet was rich in minerals and vitamins. Additionally, 59% expressed a willingness to try millet-based recipes. However, only 35.6% of participants reported consuming millets daily, and for 56.4% of them, the primary reason for non-consumption was the difficulty in obtaining millets.

Conclusion: Adopting millet in the daily diet is possible only through active community participation and awareness. The findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about the nutritional benefits of millet within the community.