Millets for food and nutritional security in semi-arid Bundelkhand, India: historical, scientific, and socio-economic perspectives.

Millets are ancient cereal grains cultivated for over 10,000 years across more than 90 countries. They are nutritionally rich, providing carbohydrates, high-quality protein, fiber, vitamins, and micronutrients (such as iron and zinc), making them crucial for food and nutritional security. Despite their intrinsic nutritional and ecological value, the total area under millet cultivation declined substantially after the mid-20th century Green Revolution, as government-backed agricultural policies largely incentivized cereal based agronomy. Central India's Bundelkhand region faces food and nutrition insecurity due to erratic rainfall, low soil fertility, land degradation, frequent droughts, and other natural calamities. In this challenging context, the systematic revitalization of millet cultivation is increasingly recognized as a critical intervention. Historically integral to Bundelkhand's traditional farming systems, these indigenous crops offer a reliable climate-resilient alternative to water-intensive major cereals. Globally, millet production is about 30 million tons (with an average yield of ~1 t/ha), of which India contributes roughly 40%-43% (approximately 16.4 mt from 13.3 million hectares). However, millet cultivation in Bundelkhand lag significantly below the national average in terms of net cultivated area, production and productivity. This review outlines the historical trajectory of millet cultivation in Bundelkhand, its decline in post-Green Revolution era, and its emerging role in ensuring food and nutritional security. The review also explores recent advances in millet improvement research, specifically highlighting the development of high-yielding, stress-tolerant, and biofortified varieties. Furthermore, their nutritional benefits, the efficacy of supportive public policies, and the impact of community-driven revival initiatives. By integrating agronomic, genetic, and socio-economic perspectives, the review highlights millet's potential to diversify cropping systems, restore degraded agro-ecosystems, and strengthen the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and resilience in climate-vulnerable regions like Bundelkhand, thus contributing to sustainable, resilient, and equitable food and nutrition systems.