Historical Evolution and Future Development Direction of Foxtail Millet Planting in China

Foxtail millet are representative of the origins of dry farming in the north of China, having been domesticated and cultivated around 8 000 years ago, with setaria italica cultivation gradually dominating food production around 5 000 years ago and reaching its peak in the prehistoric period around 2 000 years ago. During the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, a period of transition from primitive setaria italica production techniques to traditional agricultural techniques, the emergence of oxen and iron farming tools and intensive cultivation techniques led to a breakthrough in setaria italica cultivation during the Spring, Autumn and Warring States period. Foxtail millet cultivation areas expanded during the Qin and Han Dynasties, and traditional setaria italica cultivation flourished during the Wei, Jin and North and South Dynasties. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, rice and wheat gradually rose in prominence, gradually replacing the traditional status of setaria italica, but in the traditional Yellow River basin, foxtail millet still occupied a staple food position. During the Yuan and Song dynasties, wheat continued to spread to the south and grain production gradually overtook cereals. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the area planted with high-yielding crops such as maize and sweet potatoes expanded rapidly to meet the food needs of the rapidly growing population, but foxtail millet remained an important grain crop in the north. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, China's foxtail millet acreage continued to decline, going through three phases: the period as a staple food, the transition period from staple to miscellaneous cereals, and the miscellaneous cereal period, mainly due to slower yield increases, cumbersome cultivation, reduced consumer demand and a lack of policy. In the new era, the nutritional, ecological and cultural attributes of foxtail millet will bring new opportunities for the development of the foxtail millet industry. In the future, China's foxtail millet planting area will rise steadily, the demand for high-quality edible, nutritional and health care, special processing and other special varieties will become a trend, the type of processed products will be more abundant, and the foxtail millet industry will gradually develop in the direction of functionalization, branding, quality and high-end.