Finger Millet — Package of Practices
A hardy, nutritious rainfed cereal whose grain stores for years — transplant or line-sow, beat the weeds early, and watch for neck and finger blast.
Overview
Finger millet (ragi) is a hardy kharif cereal grown mainly under rainfed conditions. Its grain is highly nutritious and stores remarkably well.
The crop can be transplanted from a nursery or line-sown; controlling weeds during its slow early growth and guarding against blast are the keys.
Climate & season
Ragi likes warm weather (about 20–30 °C) and is a hardy rainfed kharif crop.
- Tolerates poor soils and uncertain rainfall.
- Grown both as a transplanted and a direct-sown crop.
- Withstands short dry spells well.
Soil & land preparation
Best on a well-drained red loam or sandy loam; tolerates a wide pH of 5.0–8.0.
- Prepare a fine, level seedbed (or nursery).
- Mix in 5–10 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Good drainage avoids seedling rots.
Choosing a type & seed
Choose early or medium-duration types to suit the rains, and decide between transplanting and direct sowing. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- Transplanting: about 5 kg/ha (to raise the nursery).
- Direct-sown (lines): about 10 kg/ha.
- The seed is small — sow shallow.
Seed treatment
- Treat with a recommended fungicide against blast and seedling diseases.
- Use clean, well-filled seed.
Sowing & spacing
- Raise a nursery, or line-sow directly into a fine seedbed.
- Transplant 3–4 week seedlings, 2–3 per hill.
- Space about 22.5–30 cm × 10 cm.
- Sow the small seed shallow and keep the surface moist.
- Gap-fill early to keep a full stand.
Nutrient management
Finger millet needs modest nutrition; split the nitrogen for steady growth.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 5–10 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 40–60 kg/ha | Basal · top-dress at about 25–30 days |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 30 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 20 kg/ha | Basal |
Water management
Largely rainfed, but it responds to water at flowering.
- Most sensitive around flowering and grain filling.
- Give a supplemental irrigation then if the rains fail.
- Drain excess water after heavy showers.
Weed management
- Weed control in the first 3–4 weeks is critical because of slow early growth.
- Give two timely weedings (or a recommended herbicide).
- Inter-row hoeing also conserves moisture.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blast (neck & finger) | Disease | Lesions on neck and fingers; chaffy grain | Treated seed, tolerant types, balanced N, recommended fungicide at heading |
| Brown spot | Disease | Brown spots on leaves | Spacing, balanced nutrition |
| Pink stem borer | Pest | Dead hearts, tunnelled stems | Destroy stubble; spray only at threshold |
| Aphids | Pest | Colonies on earheads | Conserve natural enemies; spot-treat if heavy |
- Sow treated seed of a tolerant type.
- Keep the crop weed-free and nitrogen balanced.
- Watch for blast at heading and manage early.
- Spray only where needed, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Harvest when the earheads turn brown and the grain is hard, generally 100–120 days.
- Thresh, clean and dry the grain — it then stores for years with little loss.
- Grain yields of about 2–3 t/ha are usual.
Related crops
Finger Millet — Package of Practices
A hardy, nutritious rainfed cereal whose grain stores for years — transplant or line-sow, beat the weeds early, and watch for neck and finger blast.
Overview
Finger millet (ragi) is a hardy kharif cereal grown mainly under rainfed conditions. Its grain is highly nutritious and stores remarkably well.
The crop can be transplanted from a nursery or line-sown; controlling weeds during its slow early growth and guarding against blast are the keys.
Climate & season
Ragi likes warm weather (about 20–30 °C) and is a hardy rainfed kharif crop.
- Tolerates poor soils and uncertain rainfall.
- Grown both as a transplanted and a direct-sown crop.
- Withstands short dry spells well.
Soil & land preparation
Best on a well-drained red loam or sandy loam; tolerates a wide pH of 5.0–8.0.
- Prepare a fine, level seedbed (or nursery).
- Mix in 5–10 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Good drainage avoids seedling rots.
Choosing a type & seed
Choose early or medium-duration types to suit the rains, and decide between transplanting and direct sowing. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- Transplanting: about 5 kg/ha (to raise the nursery).
- Direct-sown (lines): about 10 kg/ha.
- The seed is small — sow shallow.
Seed treatment
- Treat with a recommended fungicide against blast and seedling diseases.
- Use clean, well-filled seed.
Sowing & spacing
- Raise a nursery, or line-sow directly into a fine seedbed.
- Transplant 3–4 week seedlings, 2–3 per hill.
- Space about 22.5–30 cm × 10 cm.
- Sow the small seed shallow and keep the surface moist.
- Gap-fill early to keep a full stand.
Nutrient management
Finger millet needs modest nutrition; split the nitrogen for steady growth.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 5–10 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 40–60 kg/ha | Basal · top-dress at about 25–30 days |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 30 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 20 kg/ha | Basal |
Water management
Largely rainfed, but it responds to water at flowering.
- Most sensitive around flowering and grain filling.
- Give a supplemental irrigation then if the rains fail.
- Drain excess water after heavy showers.
Weed management
- Weed control in the first 3–4 weeks is critical because of slow early growth.
- Give two timely weedings (or a recommended herbicide).
- Inter-row hoeing also conserves moisture.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blast (neck & finger) | Disease | Lesions on neck and fingers; chaffy grain | Treated seed, tolerant types, balanced N, recommended fungicide at heading |
| Brown spot | Disease | Brown spots on leaves | Spacing, balanced nutrition |
| Pink stem borer | Pest | Dead hearts, tunnelled stems | Destroy stubble; spray only at threshold |
| Aphids | Pest | Colonies on earheads | Conserve natural enemies; spot-treat if heavy |
- Sow treated seed of a tolerant type.
- Keep the crop weed-free and nitrogen balanced.
- Watch for blast at heading and manage early.
- Spray only where needed, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Harvest when the earheads turn brown and the grain is hard, generally 100–120 days.
- Thresh, clean and dry the grain — it then stores for years with little loss.
- Grain yields of about 2–3 t/ha are usual.