What Are Cereals?

The family Poaceae is very much known for its grass plants, with high carbohydrates, minerals, fats, and oil content. In India, the major cereals cultivated are wheat, corn, barley, oats, and sorghum. These crops have become the major staple food for many countries due to their high nutritional values.  Furthermore, they come up with a lower cost of production as compared to the other edible products available in the market.

Classification of Cereals

• Kingdom- Plantae
• Order: Poales
• Family: Poaceae 

Factors Affecting Cereal Production

The production of cereals largely depends upon geographical and climatic conditions, which vary with the change in latitude and altitude.  These conditions act as a barrier to the production of these crops for different countries and also make their seasonal crops. For example, in India, wheat and barley is a winter-season (Rabi crop) crop because it needs a cold environment, whereas maize and sorghum are summer-season (Kharif- crop) because they need a warm and humid environment. 

Statistical Data on Cereals

Here’s a list of a few statistical snippets related to Cereals:

• World’s largest Wheat producer- China
• World’s largest Maize producer- United States of America
• World’s largest Sorghum-producer- United States of America
• World’s largest Barley-producer- European Union

Uses of Cereals

These are majorly used as raw materials for the preparation of different types of foods that vary from country to country and culture to culture. A few of these are listed below:-

• It is used as a staple food in many countries and a major ingredient of food items like bread, pasta, etc.
• Cereals are used to feed livestock and poultry.
• Cereals like wheat and barley are used in the brewery industry.
• Biofuel production involves the usage of maize to produce ethanol.
• Oats are used in various countries as breakfast snacks

Cereals and pulses are the two major kinds of staple food crops cultivated worldwide to meet the population’s nutritional needs. Food grains refer to both cereals and pulses as a whole. Some examples of cereals and pulses include wheat, rice, corn, and dry beans. Most pulses consist of dried seeds. Cereals are carbohydrate-rich products, whereas pulses are known for their high protein content.