The terms used for cereals in the Rig Veda are:

In the Rig Veda, the primary term used for grain or cereal is 'Yava', which specifically refers to barley. The term 'Dhanya' (or Dhana) is also used in the Rig Veda as a general term for grain or coriander-like seeds. While agriculture was well-developed, with references to the plough (langla) and furrows (sita), the Rig Vedic people had a limited vocabulary for specific cereals compared to the Later Vedic period [2]. Terms like 'Vrihi' (rice) and 'Godhuma' (wheat) are characteristic of Later Vedic texts such as the Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda, rather than the Rig Veda [1]. 'Tila' (sesame) and 'Priyangu' (millet) also appear more prominently in later Samhitas. Therefore, Yava and Dhanya are the most accurate terms associated with the earliest Vedic layer.

Sources

1. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Economy: Agriculture > p. 24
2. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > The Late Vedic Texts > p. 26