Diagnostics of Sorghum and Pearl Millet Grains-based Nutrition in India

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.