Cultivation of Finger Millet (Ragi)

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana), commonly known as Ragi, is a resilient and nutritious cereal crop widely grown in India and Africa. It is a staple food in many regions due to its high calcium content, adaptability to poor soils, and drought resistance.

Scientific Name: Eleusine coracana

Common Names:

• Ragi (India)
• Nachni (India)
• Wimbi (Africa)
• African millet, Koracan millet

Origin and Distribution

Origin and Importance

• Origin: Believed to have originated in Ethiopia, it later spread to India and Africa.
• Importance:
  • A staple food in semi-arid regions.
  • Highly nutritious, especially rich in calcium, iron, and dietary fiber.
  • Gluten-free, suitable for individuals with gluten intolerance.
  • Used for making porridge, bread, malt, and other food products.

• Global Cultivation: Predominantly grown in India, Nepal, and parts of Africa.
• India’s Production: Major states include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand.

Importance

• Nutritional Value:
  • Rich in calcium (344 mg/100g), iron, and dietary fiber.
  • Low glycemic index: Ideal for diabetics.
  • High protein content (7–8%).
  • Gluten-free, making it suitable for individuals with gluten intolerance.
• Health Benefits:
  • Helps manage diabetes due to its low glycemic index.
  • Strengthens bones and teeth due to high calcium content.
  • Aids in weight management and digestion.
• Food Products:
  • Ragi flour, porridge, malt, bread, biscuits, and baby food.

Characteristics

• Growth Habit:
  • Finger millet is an annual cereal crop.
  • It forms finger-like seed heads, hence the name “finger millet.”
• Adaptability:
  • Grows in arid and semi-arid regions.
  • Thrives in poor, degraded soils and is highly drought-tolerant.

Climatic Requirements

• Temperature: 20–30°C is optimal for growth.
• Rainfall: Requires 500–1,000 mm but tolerates low rainfall.
• Altitude: Can grow up to 2,000 meters above sea level.

Soil Requirements

• Soil Type:
  • Grows in a wide range of soils, including sandy loam, red loam, and black soils.
  • Tolerates acidic to neutral pH (5.0–7.0).
• Soil Fertility:
  • Performs well in nutrient-poor soils but benefits from organic manure application.

Land Preparation

• Tillage:Plow the field 2–3 times to ensure a fine tilth. Remove weeds and level the field for uniform sowing.
• Manuring: Apply 10–15 tons of farmyard manure (FYM) during the last plowing.

Varieties

• Other Varieties: VL-149: For hilly regions, short duration. Bhagya (HR 911): High-yielding, for irrigated areas.
• Indaf Series: Indaf-5, Indaf-7, Indaf-9: Suited for dryland and irrigated areas, moderate resistance to blast disease.
• GPU Series: GPU-28, GPU-45, GPU-48: High-yielding, resistant to blast, suitable for various conditions.
• PR Series (Pant Ragi): PR-202, PR-206: Drought-tolerant and resistant to diseases, ideal for Northern India.
• KMR Series (Karnataka Ragi): KMR-204, KMR-340: Adapted to semi-arid areas, resistant to blast.
• RAU-8, Co-13: Suitable for Eastern India and Tamil

Sowing and Propagation

• Season: Rainfed crop: Sown during June–July (kharif). Irrigated crop: Sown during October–December (rabi).
• Seed Rate: Line sowing: 8–10 kg/ha. Broadcasting: 12–15 kg/ha.
• Seed Treatment: Treat seeds with fungicides like carbendazim or bioagents (e.g., Trichoderma) to prevent seed-borne diseases.
• Spacing: Row-to-row: 22.5–30 cm. Plant-to-plant: 8–10 cm.

Crop Duration

• Short-duration Varieties: 90–100 days.
• Long-duration Varieties: 110–120 days.

Nutrient Management

• Fertilizer Requirements:
  • Nitrogen (N): 40–60 kg/ha.
  • Phosphorus (P2O5): 30–40 kg/ha.
  • Potassium (K2O): 20–30 kg/ha.
• Application:
  • Apply half the nitrogen and the full dose of phosphorus and potassium at the time of sowing.
  • Top-dress the remaining nitrogen 30–35 days after sowing.

 Irrigation Management

• Rainfed Crop: Relies on monsoon rains; drought-resistant.
• Irrigated Crop:
  • Requires 2–3 irrigations:
    1. At germination.
    2. During tillering.
    3. At grain filling.

Weed Management

• Critical Period: First 20–40 days after sowing.
• Control Methods:
  • Hand weeding: Two sessions, first at 20 days and second at 35 days after sowing.
  • Pre-emergence herbicides: Use Pendimethalin at 1.0 kg/ha.

Pest and Disease Management

• Major Pests:
  • Stem borers: Apply neem-based pesticides or insecticides like carbaryl.
  • Aphids: Use systemic insecticides such as Imidacloprid.
• Common Diseases:
  • Blast (Pyricularia grisea): Manage with resistant varieties and fungicides like carbendazim.
  • Seedling blight: Use treated seeds and maintain proper crop hygiene.

 Crop Growth and Harvesting

• Crop Duration:
  • Short-duration varieties: 90–100 days.
  • Long-duration varieties: 110–120 days.
• Indicators of Maturity:
  • Grains turn hard and dark.
  • Leaves start drying.
• Harvesting Method:
  • Harvest manually using sickles.
  • Allow bundles to dry in the field before threshing.

Yield Rainfed Conditions: 1.0–1.5 tons/ha. Irrigated Conditions: 2.5–3.0 tons/ha.

Post-Harvest Management

• Threshing: Thresh the dried bundles using a wooden log or mechanical thresher.
• Drying: Dry grains under sunlight to reduce moisture content to 12–14% for safe storage.
• Storage: Store in airtight containers or grain storage structures to protect from pests and humidity.

Economic Importance

• Value-Added Products: Ragi malt, ragi flour, biscuits, and porridge.
• Livelihood Support: A source of income for farmers in rainfed and tribal areas.

Finger millet, with its low input requirements and high nutritional value, is a sustainable and health-promoting crop, making it an excellent choice for cultivation in resource-limited regions.