Plant gene expression is controlled by microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small, non-coding RNA molecules with a length of 20?22 nucleotides. They function by either inhibiting translation or cleaving messenger RNA (mRNA) to silence particular target genes after transcription. miRNAs function as fine-tuners of plant growth, development, flowering, root formation and reactions to the environment because they regulate numerous crucial genes. According to recent studies, miRNAs are crucial to plant improvement initiatives. They improve nutrient uptake (nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur); help crops withstand abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, heat and cold; offer resistance against diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses; and enhance yield-related traits like grain number, plant architecture and flowering time. Improved crop varieties are currently being developed using miRNA-based techniques like overexpression, knockdown (STTM/MIM), CRISPR-based editing of MIR genes and miRNA markers. Using examples from significant miRNA families like miR156, miR159, miR396, miR399 and miR482, this article summarizes the contributions and uses of plant miRNAs in crop improvement while providing a straight forward explanation of their biogenesis and activities.