Diagnostics of Sorghum and Pearl Millet Grains-based Nutrition in India
2006
About 26% of the Indian population is deficient in calories
and 28% in protein (Chand et al. 2003). The deficiency is
most acute among the poor. The magnitude of micronutrient
[iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn)] deficit is particularly alarming
among children, women of reproductive age, and pregnant
and lactating women (Sharma 2003). Current efforts to
combat micronutrient malnutrition in the developing
world focus on providing vitamin and mineral supplements
to pregnant women and young children, and on fortifying
foods during processing (Per Pinstrup-Andersen 2000).
The introduction of crop varieties selected and/or bred
for increased Fe and Zn will complement these efforts.
Micronutrient-rich sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]
and pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]
cultivars are being bred by the International Crops
Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
to address micronutrient deficiency in the semi-arid tropics
with funding support from HarvestPlus. An understanding
of the dietary contribution to nutrient intake in major
sorghum and pearl millet production/consumption regions
would help in quantifying the micronutrient deficiency
for better targeting sorghum and pearl millet cultivars.
This paper summarizes the contribution of sorghum and
pearl millet toward intake of nutrients in major sorghum
and pearl millet growing regions in India.
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