It is known as finger millet, African finger millet, red millet and ragi, are the oldest food and first cereal grain used for domestic purpose. Finger millet is originally native to the Ethiopian highlands and was introduced into India approximately 4000 years ago. They can grow in dry weather; can withstand severe drought conditions and adaptable to higher elevations. It is highly grown crops among all small millets. It is a rich source of protein and minerals in comparison to all other cereals and millets. It contains important amino acids. It has the highest amount of calcium (344mg) and potassium (408mg). It is beneficial for individuals with low hemoglobin levels as it is great source of iron.

Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Gujrat, Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh (Hilly region) are the important finger millet growing states of India.

It can be grown on variety of soil ranging from rich loam to poor shallow upland soil with good organic matter. Black soil with good drainage can also be considered for cultivation as this crop is sustainable to water logging to some extent. Finger millet grows best in soil having pH 4.5-8. Soil having water logging problem should not be used for cultivation of finger millet.

VL 149: Ready to harvest in 98-102 days. Gives average of 10-11quintal/acre. Wide adaptation and earliness and resistant to blast.

G.P.U 26, G.P.U 28

P.R 202, B 11

Phule Nachani, PES 110

Dapoli 1, Godavari

E 31, A 16

Other state varieties:

VL Mandua 315: Ready to harvest in 105-115 days. It gives average yield of 10-11quintal/acre. Tolerant to finger and neck blast.

VL Mandua 324: Released in 2006. Plant attains the height of 77-95cm. Ready to harvest in 105-137 days. It has very light copper colored grain. The variety is moderately tolerant to blast. Gives an average yield of 6-10quintal/acre.

VL Mandua 347: Released in 2011. Plant attains the height of 105-115cm. Ready to harvest in 82-115 days. It has copper colored grain. The variety is moderately tolerant to blast. Gives an average yield of 6-10quintal/acre.

VL Mandua 352: Applicable for cultivation for all states except Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Ready to harvest in 95 to 100 days. It gives average yield of 8-10quintal/acre.

GPU 48: Released in 2009. Ready to harvest in 100-105 days. The variety is resistant to blast. Gives an average yield of 12-14quintal/acre. Suitable for late kharif and summer season.

GPU 66: Released in 2013. The variety is resistant to blast. Gives an average yield of 12-13quintal/acre.

GPU 67: Released in 2010. Ready to harvest in 100-105 days. The variety is resistant to blast. Gives an average yield of 12-14quintal/acre. Suitable for late kharif and summer season.

KMR 301: Released in 2011. Ready to harvest in 120 days. It gives average yield of 16-18quintal/acre for rainfed areas and 20-22quintal/acre for irrigated areas. Tolerant to finger and neck blast.

PES 400: Ready to harvest in 98-102 days. It gives average yield of 8quintal/acre. It is early maturing variety and it is resistant to blast.

PES 176: Ready to harvest in 102-105 days. Gives average yield of 8-9quintal/acre. Seeds are of brown color and it is resistant to blast.

KM-65: Ready to harvest in 98-102 days. Gives average yield of 8-10quintal/acre.

VL 146: Ready to harvest in 95-100 days. It gives average yield of 98-102quintal/acre. This variety is resistant to blast.

VL 124: Ready to harvest in 95-100 days. Average yield 10quintal/acre. Good for seed as well for fodder.

VR 708: It is drought tolerant variety. Applicable for all states for cultivation.

Akshya, PES 110, PR 202, JNR 852, MR 374

In rainfed crop, carry out deep ploughing operation in main field for 2-3 times to conserve moisture in soil.With the help of secondary tillage implements like with cultivator and multiple tooth hoes, prepare smooth seed bed. Before sowing do minor land smoothening operations, it helps in better in-situ moisture conservation.

Time of sowing

Last week of June to middle of July is the optimum time of finger millet cultivation. For irrigated conditions, complete sowing before onset of monsoon. 

Spacing

For sowing use row to row spacing of 22.5cm and plant to plant spacing of 10cm. 

Sowing Depth

Seed should not be sown less than 3-4 cm deep.

Method of sowing

Sowing can be done manually by: 

• Broadcasting
• Line sowing
• Drilling 
• Transplantation in field 

Seed Rate

For sowing, use seed rate of 1.2 to 1.6kg per acre.

Seed Treatment

Soak seed in water (one litre water for every kg of seeds) for 6 hours. Drain the water and tightly tied the seeds in wet cloth bag for two days. After two days remove seeds from wet cloth bag, they will show some sign of germination. Dry them in shade for two days. Use such seeds for sowing purpose. If seed treatment with chemicals is to be carried out then, complete chemical seed treatment first and then go for chemicals seed treatment before sowing of seeds.

Use any one fungicide from below

In areas of adequate moisture, transplantation method is adopted. It gives higher yield compared to direct seeded crop.

Transplantation method: Sow seeds in well prepared nursery in middle of June to first week of July. Three to four weeks after sowing, seedlings are ready for transplantation. 

Before pulling the seedling, nursery should be irrigated. Prepare slurry with 2 packets 300 gram/acre of Azospirillum inoculant in 40 Litre of water and dip the root portion of the seedlings in the solution for 15-30 min and transplant. Transplant two seedlings per hill at a distance of 22.5cmx10cm at the depth of 2-3 cm. On third day after transplantation irrigate the field. In absence of timely rain, irrigate field regularly till seedlings are well established.

Intercropping: Tur can be taken as intercrop in finger millet crop. Sow two lines of Tur after eight rows of Ragi. 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

To obtained higher yield, apply 5ton/acre of Farm yard manure or well decomposed cow dung before sowing. 

Finger millets respond well to fertilizer application specifically to Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. Do soil test to know exact requirement of fertilizer of your soil. 

In absence of soil test, apply Nitrogen@24kg, Phosphorus@12kg and Potash@12kg in form of Urea@55kg, SSP@75kg and MoP@20kg per acre. 

Apply full dose of Potash, Phosphorus and half dose of Nitrogen at the time of sowing. Remaining half dose of Nitrogen to be applied 30 days after sowing/transplantation.

In initial stage of crop, weed control is necessary to obtain good crop growth along with good yield. In line sown crop 2-3 inter-culture operations and one hand weeding is necessary. For effective weed control take Spray of pre-emergence weedicide like oxyfluorfen@300ml/acre or Isoproturon@ 500 gram/acre. Spray, 2-4-D sodium salt@250gram/acre as post-emergent spray around 20-25 days after sowing for effective control of weeds.

As finger millet is rainy season crop it does not required irrigation. But at stage of tillering and flowering, if rain stops for long period then irrigation is necessary for good plant growth along with good yield. Prepared furrows and ridges for irrigation purpose, it serves dual purpose of irrigation and drainage. This crop cannot withstand in waterlogged condition; therefore care should be taken for complete removal of excess water.

• Pests and their control:

Army and cutworm: Appear in early stage of crop. Caterpillar cut base of plant in early stage of crop. They are active during night and hide in cracks and under stone during day time. They are cyclic in nature.

Control: To control cutworm eggs, release Trichogramma parasitoid weekly once for 3 weeks continuously. When the symptoms are noticed take dusting of Malathion 5%@ 10 kg/acre or Quinalphos 1.5%@250ml/acre. After harvesting remove weeds and stubbles.

Aphid: They occurred throughout the growing period. These are observed on the central leaf whorl and ears. In case of aphid infestation yellowing of leaf is observed. Nymphs of aphid are round in shape and reddish brown in color. Adults are yellow with green legs.

Control: If infestation is observed to control take spray of Methyl demeton 25EC@80ml/acre or Dimethoate 30 EC @200 ml/acre mixed in 100Ltr of water.

White Stem borer: Larva are found in lower stem region and cause damage. They feed on roots and in severe infestations, centre shoots dry up and become yellowish. Larva is milky white in color with yellowish head while adult are dark brownish, white color on forewings.

Control: If infestation is observed, take spray of Carabaryl 50WP@1 kg/acre or Dimethoate 30 EC@200ml in 100 Ltr of water.

Ear head bug: Adults attack crop on milky stage. They feeds on emerging panicle and produces chaffy grains with silky webs. Eggs are of shiny white color and found in cluster with orange hairs. Caterpillars are of brown colors with yellow band and minute hairs. Adults are of brownish color having fibrous forewings and yellowish hind wings.

Control: To attract adult moth place light traps during day time. Place Pheromone trap @5 /acre at flowering stage until panicle stage. In case of severe infestation spray Malathion 400ml or Carbaryl 600gm in 100 ltr water per acre.

Grass hopper: Nymphs and adults feeds on leaves. Nymphs are of whitish color with lines while adults are greenish brown in colour with lines on body.

Control: After harvesting remove all plant remains and follow proper sanitation, cleanliness in the field. Do ploughing after harvesting also in summer so that egg present in soil get exposed to sun and thus get destroyed. At dry and moist conditions apply Entomophthora grylli for grasshopper control. If infestation is observed spray with carbaryl 50 WP@600 gm/acre.

Leaf folder: Leaf folds longitudinally and larva remain inside. They scrap on leaves and thus white patches are observed on leaves. Female lays 200eggs on both side of leaf. Eggs are of yellowish white in color. Larva is of greenish yellow in color with brown or black head. Pupa are of dark brown in color and found inside folded leaf, while adults are whitish yellow or golden yellow.

Control: Rotate crop with non-cereals crops. Keep field and area around field clean. Avoid closer spacing while sowing. Collect and destroyed infected leaf and plant parts away from fields. Spray Chlorpyriphos@2.5ml or Quinalphos@2.5ml or Acephate@1gm or Carbaryl@1gm or Cartap Hydrochloride@2gm/Ltr. 

• Diseases and their control:

Blast: In severe infestation plant gives a blasted or burnt appearance, also lodging of crop is seen. It mostly occurred in Kharif season, at all growth stage. If blast appeared in nursery stage or at ear development stage then severe reduction in yield is observed.

Control: Grow blast resistant varieties. Do seed treatment with fungicide like carbendazim @2 gm/kg before sowing. If symptoms are observed then immediately take spray of any of one fungicides, Carbendazim@500 gm per acre. Second and third sprays at flowering stage at 15 days interval to control neck and finger infection. At 50% earhead emergence, take foliar spray with Aureofungin sol@100 ppm, followed by a second spray after 10 days with Mancozeb@400 gm/acre or Pseudomonas fluorescens@0.2%.

Mosaic: Initially small chlorotic specks are observed around 45 DAS in funnel leaves. Whole plant show yellow appearance in severe infestation. Infected plants produce more of nodal branches and unproductive tillers.

Control: If symptoms are observed then uproot and removed the infected plant and destroyed away from field. Take spray of Methyl demeton @ 25EC 200 ml/acre. If required take second spray with intervals of 20 days.

Generally, crops mature in 105-120 days, duration may vary depending upon variety use. Harvesting is done in two stages. Ear heads are harvested with sickles and straw is cut close to ground. Ear heads are heap and then drying is done in sun for three to four days. After good drying, threshing is carried out. In some places whole plant along with earhead is cut, then heap in field. Dry it in sun for 2-3 days and then carry out threshing.

Malting of finger millet is a traditional process followed in India and is used in infant foods and in milk thickener formulations, conveniently called ragi and is used in the preparation of milk beverages. A fermented drink or beer is also prepared from the grain in some parts of the country.