Millet or Bajra is extensively grown in Kutch. Millet is the collective name of a group of genera of the Grass family (Gramineae/Paniceae) widely grown around the world for food or animal feed. Pearl millet (Pennesetum glaucum (L.) R.Br, syn. P. americanum (L.) Leeke is the most widely grown of the group. Pearl millet has been grown in India and Africa since prehistoric times. It is now generally accepted that pearl millet originated in Africa and that it was introduced into India from there. Millet is well adapted to low rainfall and high temperature, and thus can be grown in areas where other cereal crops, such as wheat or maize, would not survive. Today pearl millet is grown on 260,000 km² worldwide. It is an important crop in Kutch. Pearl millet is known as cattail millet, pencillaria in the USA; bajra, bajri, sajje, cumbu in India, sanio, gero, babala, nyoloti, bullrush millet, dukkin, souma in Africa and candle millet, dark millet in Europe.

In 2001-02, Kutch produced 6.5 percent of the total millet in Gujarat. Semi-arid climatic conditions with lack of rainfall and irrigation and high temperature in the region favours millet production in the region. In 2001-02, it ranked sixth among the top millet producing districts in the state. Traditionally, bajra or millet is accepted as an important food in the region. Particularly, bread (rotla) prepared from it is extensively in use among the local folk. Therefore, millet farming is a traditional practice in the region.

Annual production varies significantly from one year to another depending upon variations in rainfall. Area under millet in Kutch is one of the highest (4th) in the state accounting for around 10 percent of the total area (2002).