Value added products from nutri-cereals: Finger millet (Eleusine coracana)

Finger millet also known as ragi in India is one of the important cereals occupies highest area under cultivation among the small millets. Finger millet is comparable to rice with regard to protein (6-8%) and fat (1-2%) and is superior to rice and wheat with respect to mineral and micronutrient contents. It is a major source of dietary carbohydrates for a large section of society. Additionally ragi has enormous health benefits and also a good source of valuable micro-nutrients along with the major food components. In order to develop the value added food products based on ragi, that can able to enrich the nutritional value and also beneficial for good health is the current need for the wellbeing of the society. Food is consumed in combinations. The synergy between foods with other is vital not for taste and delight of eating but also for their high nutritional quality and health benefits. The modern trend for development of new food products aspires for complementary foods in order to fulfill the widening gap of food availability and nutritional security. This paper attempts to discuss the few value added food products incorporating ragi and simultaneously attempts to enlist and document the methodology and techniques in the interest of scientist and common mass.