Food  for a Safe Life


 Finger Millet


It is one of important food crops in Sri Lanka. It is a seeded annual cereal which belongs to the grass family, Poaceae.  It is one of the most nutritious and healthy cereal.  

Finger Millet is a traditional grain that is popular in Sri Lanka because of its nutritional value. It is called Kurakkan in Sri Lanka. Vitamin B , iron and calcium are all present in abundance in finger millet. It is also rich in dietary fibre and helps in easy digestion. Therefore it is an excellent remedy for constipation as it acts as a natural laxative.It is low in fat content but rich in carbohydrates which makes it good for people who are overweight. 
It is important millet grown extensively in various regions of India and Africa. 


 The digestion process of finger millet is slow and therefore helps in keeping the blood sugar at a low level. As a result, it has become a favourite food among diabetic patients.This wholesome grain is made into porridge, idli, pittu, rotti, (famous main food in Sri Lanka) hoppers and bread in various regions. It is increasingly becoming popular as a bakery product and recently its demand has increased considerably as people have become aware of its health benefits. Organically grown finger millet is healthier and safer to eat as there are no harmful chemicals used in growing it.In Sri Lanka,  It is grown in Anuradhapura, Kegella, Hambanthota, Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya, Ampara, Badulla and Jaffna districts. It is hardy crop that is well adapted to arid highland areas in Africa and Asia. The crop is now grown on a larger scale in India. It grows best in an environment with medium rainfall. It is crop that has great potential if promoted as a healthy food. It was found that Finger Millet based diet helps diabetics as it contains higher fiber than rice and  wheat.