Barnyard millet (Echinochloa species) has become a prominent minor millet crop in Asia, with a substantial rise in global output. The genus Echinochloa has two main species, E. frumentacea and E. esculenta, mostly cultivated for human consumption and cattle fodder. These species have enhanced resilience to environmental stresses. Barnyard millet grains are abundant in protein, carbs, and fiber, and exhibit markedly elevated concentrations of minerals, especially iron and zinc, relative to other cereals. Notwithstanding its nutritional advantages and agronomic merits, barnyard millet has mostly been considered a minor crop. In recent years, there has been little effort toward the genetic enhancement of barnyard millet. Therefore, there is an immediate need for focused research to delineate genetic resources, design cultivars, conduct advanced genomic investigations, and disseminate enhanced technology for barnyard cultivation. Molecular breeding activities are necessary for germplasm characterization, identification of donors, development of mapping populations, and finding of quantitative trait loci (QTLs)/genes. Molecular markers are playing a very important role in genetic diversity, linkage mapping, and marker-assisted selection in barnyard millet. Microsatellite markers such as Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are used to reveal the micronutrient and agronomic traits. Advancements in genomic studies of barnyard millet have yielded important insights into its genetic material and potential for enhancing underutilized crop species. A study of barnyard germplasm characterization utilized genotyping-by-sequencing to identify several thousand SNPs, providing a robust framework for breeders to enhance barnyard millet for smallholder farmers. This chapter analyzes critical components of barnyard farming, value enhancement, crop biology, genetic resources, and advancements in crop breeding and omics technology for the genetic improvement of complex traits in barnyard millet. Additionally, it offers a concrete perspective for future research to establish barnyard millet as a viable crop of modern agroecosystems for enhancing global food and nutritional security.