1. Origin
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) originated in the highlands of Ethiopia and Uganda and was introduced to India around 3000 years ago. It is a resilient cereal valued for its nutrition and adaptability to low-input farming.
2. Geographical Distribution in India
Primarily grown in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand. Suitable for both rainfed and irrigated conditions, especially in tribal and hilly regions.
3. Economic Importance
- Staple in tribal and rainfed areas.
- High in calcium, iron, dietary fiber, and methionine.
- Improves nutrition and public health.
- Long shelf life and various culinary uses.
4. Soil and Climatic Requirements
Prefers red loam to black cotton soils with pH 5.5–7.5. Grows best at 24°C to 30°C and 350–800 mm rainfall. Tolerates drought and poor soils.
5. Land Preparation
One deep ploughing followed by 2–3 harrowings. Apply 10–12 tons/ha of FYM. Raised beds or broad-bed furrows can be used.
6. Varieties Developed in India
Popular varieties: GPU-28, GPU-48, GPU-67, GPU-66, PRM-1, CO-9, CO-15, MR-6, etc. Some are biofortified for enhanced nutrients.
7. Seed Requirement
8–10 kg/ha for direct sowing; 4–5 kg/ha for transplanting. Treat seeds with Captan or Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg.
8. Sowing Time
Kharif: June–July; Rabi (irrigated): October–November. Timely sowing avoids yield losses.
9. Cropping Systems
Grown solo or with legumes (e.g., pigeon pea, horse gram). Rotated with maize, groundnut, or chickpea for better soil health.
10. Fertilizer Requirements
Apply 40–60 kg N, 30 kg P2O5, and 30 kg K2O per ha. Half N with full P & K at sowing; rest N at 30–35 days. Use of organics and micronutrients recommended.
11. Water Requirements
Total requirement: 350–500 mm. Irrigation at seedling, tillering, flowering, and grain-filling improves yield.
12. Weed Management
Critical in first 30–40 days. Manual weeding at 15 & 30 DAS. Use Isoproturon or Pendimethalin pre-emergence herbicides. Mulching helps.
13. Diseases and Their Management
- Blast: Managed with resistant varieties and Carbendazim/Mancozeb sprays.
- Leaf spot & blight: Crop rotation and fungicide use.
- Root rot/rust: Controlled by hygiene and fungicides.
14. Insect Pests and Their Management
- Stem borer: Spray Chlorpyrifos @ 2 ml/l.
- White grubs: Deep ploughing and seed treatment.
- Aphids/thrips: Spray Dimethoate or Imidacloprid.
- Cutworms/armyworms: Regular monitoring and insecticide use.
15. Harvesting & Threshing
Harvest when heads turn brown (~100–120 DAS). Dry for 4–5 days. Thresh by beating or mechanical means. Use winnowing to clean grains.
16. Yield of Crop
Average yield: 15–25 q/ha; with good practices up to 30 q/ha. Straw yield: 40–60 q/ha for fodder.
17. Post Harvest Operations
Dry grains to 12% moisture before storage. Store in clean bins or metal containers. Use neem leaves or fumigation to prevent pests.
Finger millet is a hardy, nutritious, and sustainable crop with rising demand in health-conscious markets.
