Kodo millet belongs to the Family: Poaceae, Subfamily: Panicoideae, Tribe: Paniceae, Genus: Paspalum and Species: Paspalum scrobiculatum L. Poaceae –The grass family is the fourth largest family of the flowering plants. It includes about 700-800 genera and 11000-13000 species distributed worldwide. Apart from a high degree of taxonomic diversity, the. family has unmatched ecological and economic diversity. Kodo millet is divided into three races (regularis, irregularis, and variabilis) based on panicle morphology. In southern India, there are small (karu varagu) and large seeded (peru varagu) varieties recognized, often grown together in the same field. Cytological studies have revealed the chromosome number as 2n =4x = 40. Kodo millet is indigenous to India, and it is believed to have been domesticated some 3000 years ago. It well adapted in the tropics and subtropics. Kodo millet is generally cultivated with its weedy species and no distinction is made between the species during harvest. It is also reported to be native to West Africa. It is grown as a minor crop in most of these regions, except in the Deccan Plateau of India, where it is grown as a major food source. It is a very hardy crop, drought tolerant, can survive in marginal soils where other crops cannot survive, and can provide 450-900 kg of grain per hectare. Vernacular names of Kodo millet is in Hindi - Kodon, Kodava; English - Kodo millet; Kannada - Araka,Haraka; Marathi - Kodra,Kodru; Tamil – Varagu; Malayalam – Varaku; Punjabi - Kodon,Kodra; Oriya – Kodua; Telugu – Arikelu; Gujarathi – Kodro; Bengali – Kodoaa dhaan ; ; Urdu – Kodon. The cultivation of kodo millets started in India about 3000 years ago. Apart from India, it is cultivated in Russia, China, Africa and Japan. In India, it is widely grown in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. Among all millets available, it is well known for the highest drought resistance and produces high yield in a short duration thus is of great economic value. India is the world leader in the production of kodo millets, and thus its cultivation is of great economic significance. Kodo millets are cultivated in the kharif season (monsoon season) and Kodo millets are processed into high-value foods and drinks. Apart from economic and culinary benefits, kodo millets have numerous health benefits. Kodo millet also has considerable production potential in marginal, low fertility soils and chronic moisture deficient areas of the country and plays an important role for the food security of the people inhabiting dry and marginal lands. The seeds have an excellent storage life and can be stored for several years. Kodo is a popular fast or upvas food in some parts of India. The millet is certainly superior to rice, gluten free and rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. It has large potential to provide nourishing food to subsistence farmers in Africa and elsewhere. It is eaten as a famine food in Africa. Kodo millet is ground into flour and used to make pudding in India. In Africa it is cooked like rice. It is economically important. Its uses include: human food (cereal), animal food (fodder, forage) and medicine. It is harvested as a wild cereal in West Africa and in India. Widely cultivated as a minor millet in Africa and Asia, especially India. Also used for forage and as a feed supplement. In India, it has been used as a substrate for mushroom production and for medicinal purposes. The plant is used to clear the corneal opacity, to treat stiffness of lower limb, polyuria, diabetes, obesity, epistaxis, wound, indigestion, excessive hunger, in diabetes, eye infections, dysuria, hydrocele. Typhoid and its leaf and root paste are used to relieve labour pain. The paste of the whole plant and grain flour is taken as anti-dysenteric and to cure the skin diseases. Tribal of southern Rajasthan in India boil the grains as rice and use in diabetes and dysentery. It is also used as delivery convalescence. Most interestingly, the Santal tribes use the grain to prepare a country liquor. In this review article on Origin, Domestication, Taxonomy, Botanical Description, Genetics and Cytogenetics, Genetic Diversity, Breeding, Uses, Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Kodo Millet are discussed.
