Millet, a group of small-seeded grasses, is a vital cereal crop grown primarily in arid and semi-arid regions due to its resilience to drought and poor soils. The top millet-producing countries today are India, Nigeria, Niger, China, and Mali. India leads the world, accounting for over 40% of global millet production, with major states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka cultivating pearl millet (bajra) extensively. In Africa, Nigeria and Niger are key producers, where millet is a staple food and crucial for food security. The history of millet farming dates back over 7,000 years, with archaeological evidence pointing to its domestication in northern China (foxtail and proso millet) and the Sahel region of Africa (pearl and finger millet). Millet spread along ancient trade routes, becoming a staple in Asia and Africa, and playing a significant role in the diets of early civilizations due to its adaptability to harsh environments where other grains struggled to thrive.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 13,210,000 |
| 2 | China | 2,700,498 |
| 3 | Niger | 2,146,706 |
| 4 | Nigeria | 1,922,000 |
| 5 | Sudan | 1,500,000 |
| 6 | Mali | 1,487,683 |
| 7 | Senegal | 1,039,860 |
| 8 | Ethiopia | 1,000,000 |
| 9 | Burkina Faso | 718,000 |
| 10 | Chad | 621,367 |
| 11 | Russia | 368,137 |
| 12 | United States of America | 348,720 |
| 13 | Tanzania | 335,000 |
| 14 | Nepal | 326,443 |
| 15 | Myanmar | 240,000 |
| 16 | Pakistan | 226,317 |
| 17 | Ghana | 225,000 |
| 18 | Guinea | 216,579 |
| 19 | Ukraine | 204,990 |
| 20 | Uzbekistan | 99,800 |
| 21 | Cameroon | 98,211 |
| 22 | Namibia | 85,000 |
| 23 | Uganda | 78,250 |
| 24 | North Korea | 76,180 |
| 25 | Cote d Ivoire | 67,000 |
| 26 | Kenya | 63,000 |
| 27 | South Sudan | 47,851 |
| 28 | Malawi | 46,386 |
| 29 | Zimbabwe | 45,193 |
| 30 | Congo | 39,471 |
| 31 | Australia | 36,621 |
| 32 | Gambia | 36,000 |
| 33 | Kazakhstan | 35,825 |
| 34 | Angola | 35,000 |
| 35 | Zambia | 34,702 |
| 36 | Sierra Leone | 30,150 |
| 37 | Yemen | 30,000 |
| 38 | Togo | 28,000 |
| 39 | Guinea-Bissau | 25,263 |
| 40.5 | Mozambique | 25,000 |
| 40.5 | Eritrea | 25,000 |
| 42 | Benin | 23,456 |
| 43 | Belarus | 17,452 |
| 44 | Congo | 14,088 |
| 45 | Iran | 12,337 |
| 46 | Saudi Arabia | 12,163 |
| 47 | Burundi | 11,000 |
| 48 | Central African Republic | 10,000 |
| 49 | Bangladesh | 9,616 |
| 50 | Argentina | 9,508 |
| 51 | South Africa | 6,330 |
| 52 | Libya | 6,000 |
| 53 | Morocco | 5,099 |
| 54 | Rwanda | 5,073 |
| 55 | Turkey | 4,320 |
| 56 | Iraq | 3,441 |
| 57 | Afghanistan | 2,616 |
| 58 | Azerbaijan | 2,607 |
| 59 | Vietnam | 2,107 |
| 60 | Botswana | 1,773 |
| 61 | Bhutan | 1,122 |
| 62.5 | South Korea | 1,000 |
| 62.5 | Mauritania | 1,000 |
Data from United Nations FAO Stat