FINGER MILLET: A RESILIENT FAMINE CROP FOR MARGINAL FARMING HOUSEHOLDS

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is a crucial cereal crop grown predominantly in semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia. It serves as a food security buffer for poor farming households due to its resilience to adverse climatic conditions and minimal input requirements. This paper examines finger millet's nutritional, economic, and agronomic importance, highlights its role in mitigating food insecurity, and discusses its potential in addressing global challenges like climate change and poverty. The review provides a conceptual framework for understanding its socio-economic relevance and concludes with recommendations for improving finger millet production systems through research and policy interventions.