Coarse grains are widely grown in harsh fragile and diversified environments where agricultural inputs are scarce. More than two-thirds of the cultivated area in India is rainfed. It contributes 44 per cent to the total foodgrain production and supports about 40 per cent of the country' population. Two-thirds of the livestock population also lives in this region. This is where coarse grains are at home. They yield nutritious grain and fodder to sustain people and livestock. They include: jowar (sorghum), millets like bajra (pearl millet), ragi (finger millet), kutki (little millet), kodo (kodo millet), cheena (proso millet) and kangani (foxtail millet). Several so-called pseudocereals also fall in the category, like amaranths, buckwheat, and jave (barley), jau (oats) and maize.

"We have nine varieties of millets and six of sorghum. Every variety has its own speciality, such as pest resistance, drought resistance and early maturing. Almost no rains are required so there is no problem in crop production. It is nutritionally better because it contains good amount of fibre, protein, calories and vitamins. Government should conserve and support these,' says Salome Yes Das, training associate at the agriculture research station at Zaherabad in Medak district, Andhra Pradesh.