Proso

Proso, or proso millet, refers to Panicum miliaceum, a small-seeded cereal grain in the grass family (Poaceae). It is commonly grown as a millet in parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas and is sometimes called broomcorn millet or white millet.

Description and cultivation: Proso millet is an annual grass that typically reaches shoulder height and produces a loose panicle of tiny seeds. The seeds are white, yellow, or brown when mature. The crop is fast-maturing and highly drought-tolerant, able to grow on relatively poor soils. A short growing season—usually about 60 to 90 days in warm climates—makes it suited to marginal environments. It is often cultivated by smallholders and can be part of crop rotations.

Uses and nutrition: The seeds are the edible portion, processed into flour or cooked as porridge, breakfast cereal, or flatbreads in various cuisines. In some regions, millet grains are used to brew traditional beverages or feed poultry and other livestock. Proso millet is gluten-free and provides carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fiber, along with minerals such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorus, and B vitamins.

History and production: Proso millet is among the oldest cultivated cereals, with long-standing traditional usage in Asia and Africa. Today it is grown in several countries, with notable production in India, China, Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and other parts of Europe and Central Asia. Its resilience to drought and low-input conditions makes it an important crop for food security in some arid regions.

Ecology and economy: Proso millet contributes to food diversity and can be a climate-resilient option for farmers facing water and soil constraints. Availability and demand vary by region, influencing price and adoption.