Due to the increasing awareness about millets among the people, not only Indians but also foreigners have started including them in their diet. Many coarse grains like ragi, bajra, jowar and many smaller grains like kodo, corni etc. have started making their place in the kitchen of ordinary households. Millets are being emphasized as being in the interest of the environment as well as the health of the people. After Asia, Africa, now the trend of millets is increasing among the people in Europe as well. In this episode, today we are telling you about the world’s fifth most important grain, ‘Jowar’.
Jowar is a very important crop which can be cultivated with minimum water. It provides not only food for people but also fodder for cattle in the arid and semi-arid tropics of the world. It is, by one estimate, the staple diet for five billion people in more than 30 countries. Sorghum is one of the main traditional crops in Africa and India, being seen as ‘old-fashioned food or food for the poor’ about 50-60 years ago. But now once again people are understanding how important this traditional crop is for mankind.
There are many varieties of jowar today, such as different species are sown in Rabi and Kharif. In addition, some species are sown exclusively as cattle feed. In the last few years, the popularity of sweet jowar has also increased as it can be used to make sugar syrup, ethanol etc. Therefore this species is also being promoted a lot. The syrup is obtained from the stems of sweet sorghum, which can be used in a variety of food products. At the same time, ethanol is obtained from its grains, which is used to make biofuel.
Why Jowar is a Superfood
If we talk about including jowar in our diet, then due to its medicinal properties, many people also give it the name of ‘superfood’. Jowar roti is very famous in Telangana. But now jowar is being used in things like porridge, khichdi and dosa. Ahmedabad-based dietician, Khyati Prajapati says that jowar has many such nutrients and properties, which make it a suitable food for children to adults. Jowar is ‘gluten-free’ and hence is also being referred to as ‘the new quinoa’.
Many people are allergic to a protein called ‘gluten’ and gluten is found in wheat-barley. As such, jowar is a good option for those who cannot eat a gluten-rich diet. Also, Khyati says that jowar has a good amount of iron which makes it good for girls and women. Especially those girls who have started menstruation and such women, who have come to stop menstruation. The amount of fiber in jowar is also good, due to which it improves digestion.
In addition, jowar is also helpful in controlling high blood pressure. Jowar is a good antioxidant, which helps in fighting cancer. Khyati states that jowar contains about 20 micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, copper. Due to which blood circulation and metabolism are good. It is also helpful in reducing weight. Due to its nutritional properties, now people have started seeing it as a good alternative to wheat. Jowar flour can be easily used for making rotis, bhakri, and cheela etc.
Jowar rotis are becoming famous:
Jowar rotis are being eaten in India since time immemorial. Different types of rotis of jowar are made in different places. Like in many places, very soft rotis are made from it. Those who are asked to eat hot-hot. So in many areas, hard loaves of jowar are also made. They can be stored for a long time.
That’s why many Indian food companies are selling well packed rotis of jowar. Hubli based Poorva Food Products Company delivers its products not only in India but also in other countries. Their products mainly consist of millets flours like jowar, bajra and ‘ready-to-eat’ rotis.
Like before, nowadays people do not have enough time in every household to clean millets like jowar and make flour. And many people do not even know how to make jowar rotis. So, jowar rotis are getting good response in the market. Because the benefits of jowar are not hidden from anyone.
Sanjeeva Reddy of Bidar-based Tirumala Foods says, “Jowar kadak rotis can be stored for about six months. That’s why often we also get the demand of customers that we should do the packaging properly so that they can send it to their acquaintances living in countries like Australia, America. He says that every month about 2000 rotis are bought from him to be sent to other countries.
Not only superfood but also supercrop:
Apart from being beneficial for the health of the people, there are many other reasons which make jowar an important crop. Dr. Anil Rajvanshi of Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has been doing research on different varieties of jowar for many years. According to his research, sugar, alcohol, syrup, jaggery, fodder, fuel, filter/roof, fence and paper can be obtained from the stem and grains of sweet jowar species. It is such a crop, every part of which can be used. India has traditionally been dependent on sugarcane for the production of ethanol.
As we all know that sugarcane cultivation requires a lot of water. Whereas sweet jowar can be grown like normal jowar even in places with least water. NARI has developed a special variety ‘Madhura’, which is good for the production of ethanol, sugar syrup, and jaggery. Ethanol is used to make biofuel. At present, India has to take fuel from other countries, but in the coming time this dependence can be reduced by the production of sweet jowar.
Apart from biofuel, according to ICRISAT research, jowar can also be used to make ‘bioplastic’. Due to the demand for eco-friendly alternatives to plastics, a variety of ‘non-plastic’ products are becoming available in the market. Various products like single use cutlery are also being made from sugarcane bagasse. It is eco friendly but if it is about the cultivation of sugarcane, then it is not in the interest of the environment in the long run. That’s why scientists have now started focusing on jowar instead of sugarcane.
Because there are many varieties of jowar, it is a good alternative to sugarcane. ICRISAT Chief Scientist Dr. A. According to Ashok Kumar, if compared to time, water and fertilizers, jowar is a very effective crop. And sorghum bagasse also contains as much cellulose as sugarcane bagasse. Therefore, eco-friendly products can be made from sorghum bagasse.
If you want to include jowar in your diet, you can do it in many ways. Like you can eat rotis of its flour. Apart from this, jowar can be mixed with other millets like ragi or dry fruits to make different dishes. Jowar can also be used in baby food.
Editing – G N Jha
cover photo: left and right
Also read: Benefits of Barley: Foreigners have their own indigenous ‘barley’, it is also very famous in Italy
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