Proximate Composition of Minor Millets from Cold Semi-Arid Regions

The nutritional importance of minor millets growingin geographically and environmentally isolated semi-arid regionsremains largely unexplored, which has led to it being underutilized for diet diversification. In this study, the proximatecomposition of three species of minor millets, namely, Barnyardmillet (Echinochloa frumentacea),Finger millet (Eleusinecoracana) and Foxtail millet(Setaria italica), grown in traditionalmillet cultivating regions (cold semi-arid) of the Himalayanrange, have been analyzed. Two high altitude locations ofcontrasting cold temperatures in this region were selected foranalysis. Dehradun which exhibits a temperature of 25-27℃, islocated at 640 masl. (Meters Above Sea Level) in UttarakhandWest (UW), whereas, the second location, Pithoragarh whichexhibits a temperature of 15-17℃ is located at 1514 masl. inUttarakhand East (UE). The results of this study record a 30.75percent increase in average protein content of Barnyard milletgrains when the same seed stock was grown at the second regionof lower temperature, i.e. Pithoragarh (15-17℃), as compared toDehradun (15-17℃). A 42.66 percent increase in average fatcontent was also recorded for Barnyard millet grains whengrown at Pithoragarh (15-17℃). The two other millet species,Finger millet and Foxtail millet, did not record significantdifferences in protein and fat contents, however, Foxtail milletdisplayed marginally increased levels of sodium and potassium.In contrast to the other components analyzed, Total Dietary Fiber(TDF) was found to decrease with growth at the comparativelycolder location of Pithoragarh. A 36.71 percent decrease in TDFcontent was recorded for Barnyard millet, whereas, a 19.25percent decrease was recorded for Finger millet. Foxtail milletdisplayed a marginal decrease of only 5.3 percent in TDF contentwith growth at Pithoragarh. Starch concentration and moisturecontent for all three species was also studied, but did not recordany notable differences due to growth at the colder location ofPithoragarh. The results here indicate an important role of coldtemperature and high altitude in regulating the proximatecomposition of minor millet grains. Studies which explore theproximate composition of millet cultivars in such geographicallyand environmentally distinct millet growing regions, may revealnew information regarding the nutritional importance of minormillets, and the ideal conditions of growth for maximumnutritional benefit.