Millet, production

Finger millet is an annual robust grass that grows to a height of 40-100cm. It's mainly grown as a grain cereal in Semiarid tropics and sub tropics of the world under rain fed conditions. The straw can be used as fodder and the fields are often grazed after harvesting.

The crop requires at least a firm and fine seedbed. The seed can be planted by broadcasting or by drilling directly into the soil. After broadcasting, the seed is lightly covered with the soil using twigs pulled over the field or by passing a herd of animals through the field. This is common mainly in African communities where millets are planted by broadcasting.

Re-sowing is done if prolonged dry spell occurs. In developed countries, finger millet is normally planted by drilling the seed in rows. In some countries where irrigation is practiced, the seed is planted in nurseries and the seedlings are later transplanted to the field 3-4 weeks after planting. Thinning should be done when the plants are 2.5 to 5 cm high.

1.0.1 Spacing and Seed Rates

Again as in pearl millet, the spacing varies depending on the availability of soil moisture and amount of organic matter in the soil. When planted in drills, the seed is drilled in rows of 7.5 to 25 cm between rows and 2.5 cm deep. The seed rates range from 5-10 kg/ha. Where broadcasting is done, a lot of seed is needed and seed rates can go up to 20 kg/ha.

1.0.2 Soils

The crop does well in a variety of soils but prefers well-drained and fertile sandy loams. Finger millet, unlike pearl millet, does poorly on infertile soils and cannot tolerate waterlogging. In East and Central Africa (main production areas), the crop prefers new virgin land (newly broken land) or bush fallow.

1.1 Fertilizer Application

The crop responds to NPK fertilizer application. A soil fertilizer test is recommended to establish the correct amount of nutrients to be added.

In traditional cropping systems, fields are commonly cleared by bush burning which leaves some amounts of potassium for the millet crop. This is a common practice especially where shifting cultivation/bush fallows is still being practiced.

Manure application significantly improves finger millet yields and is recommended where animal manure is readily available.

Manure should be applied when it's properly decomposed. Otherwise manure that is not properly decomposed (raw) is toxic and can cause burning of plants. Also, when manure is decomposing in the field, it may cause temporary immobilization of nutrients (nutrients become un available to the plants).

Weeding should be done as early as possible since finger millet does not tolerate competition from weeds during early stages of growth. Weeding is a labor-intensive operation (especially where crop is planted by broad casting) and three to four weedings are required.

Weeds are controlled using a hand hoe or by hand pulling. Eleusine africana is the most serious weed and cannot be distinguished from E.coracana in early stages of growth. Drilling seed is becoming popular partly because it makes weeding easy.

Maturity periods vary depending on the cultivar /hybrid and climatic conditions. Most cultivars mature at 3.5-6MAP. In Uganda, pese1, seremi 1 and 2 mature at 100 DAP. At high altitudes (>2000 m.a.s.l), most cultivars take up to 6 months to mature.

Yields range from 600-800 kg/ha (India, under rainfed conditions). In Uganda, yields average 1800 kg/ha. However, yields as high as 5000 kg/ha have been recorded.

Harvesting is done as the crop matures. It can be repeated 2-3 times before the whole crop field is completed. Harvesting is done by cutting the heads from standing plants using knives.