MILLET: THE FORGOTTEN GRAIN AND ITS POSSIBLE REVIVAL AS AN ANSWER TO FOOD SHORTAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES

บทคัดย่อ

Millet was one of the grains produced in the Philippines during the pre-colonial era.  Though it is described in ancient Egyptian and Babylonian texts, millet’s origin and introduction in the  Philippines remain shrouded in history.  Its cultivation and use, however, were described by early Spanish missionaries.  Along with rice, millet was one of the festal foods of the Philippines which were consumed only during times of feasts and merry-making.   In the course of centuries, the Filipinos were drawn towards a wider utilization of rice and the farming and consumption of millet has become more of a rarity as it became confined to a few remote areas in the islands.   Meanwhile millet is still being grown in various countries of Southeast Asia like Malaysia and Indonesia.  Beyond the region, millet is a major grain in India and China which are its biggest producers as well as various countries in Africa.  This paper examines the reasons for the decline of the cultivation of millet and discusses the possibilities and benefits of its revival and popularization. Compared to rice millet requires less water and fertilizer and it is more tolerant of hot and dry climates and increased soil salinity.  The article also compares the nutritive value of millet compared to other grains and its popular cultivation could become a solution for the food shortage and malnutrition in the Philippines