Agricultural Horizons: Research, Technology and Sustainable Development Vol. 3

Millets are increasingly considered suitable components of organic farming systems because of their adaptability to diverse agroecological conditions, comparatively low water and external-input requirements, and nutritional value. This review examines the integration of millet cultivation with organic farming principles and evaluates its implications for production, soil health, biodiversity, climate resilience, water conservation, cultural relevance, economic viability, certification, and future sustainability. The synthesis indicates that practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, cover cropping, agroforestry, vermicomposting, organic nutrient management, and non-chemical pest management can align millet production with broader goals of soil fertility maintenance, resource conservation, and agroecosystem diversification. Millet root systems and nutrient-use characteristics are described as supporting soil structure, water retention, nutrient cycling, and long-term soil health, while crop diversity may strengthen resilience to climatic and biological stresses. The review also highlights the cultural importance of millets, their role in diversified diets, and emerging market opportunities for organically produced millet products. However, persistent constraints include limited awareness, market access, infrastructure, value-chain development, certification requirements, and climatic uncertainty. These benefits remain context-dependent. Overall, millet-based organic systems offer a multidimensional pathway towards more resource-efficient and resilient agriculture, although their wider adoption depends on context-specific agronomic management, supportive policies, knowledge-sharing mechanisms, and viable market linkages.