F I N G E R M I L L E T (BAVTO/ RAGI/ NAGLI)
Botanical name: Eleusine coracana Gaertn.
Family : Gramineae
Origin: India and Africa
Finger millet is also known as Ragi in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada, Marua in Hindi, Marwa in Bengali, Mandia in Oriya, Nagli in Marathi, Mandhuka in Punjabi and Bavto in Gujarati.
Economic importance
• Staple food for hard toiling class in many hilly areas of the country
• It is very useful against diabetes
• Rich in protein (9.2 %) and provide minerals and vitamin A and B
• The grains are eaten as chapaties
• In South, grains are malted and fed to infants
• It is a nutritive food for adults of different ages
• It can be stored for many years
• Stalk is good fodder for animals
• Green straw is suitable for making silage
Varieties
1. Gujarat Nagli 1 - Released in 1976 gives 10.6 % higher yield than local variety. Average yield is 2000 kg/ha.
2. Gujarat Nagli 2 - Released in 1983, gives yield of 2200 kg/ha, attractive seed colour and comparatively larger seed size and gives 10 % higher yield than Gujarat Nagli –1.
3. Gujarat Nagli 3 - Evolved from a cross of GN-2 x KM-13 and released in 1991, gives yield of 2365 kg/ha.
4. Gujarat Nagli 4 - Released in 2006. It gives yield 2934 kg/ha.
Field preparation
As the seeds are small, it needs well prepare field. After harvesting of previous crop, one or two cross ploughing or one to two tractor cultivations are sufficient for preparation of good seedbed. Stubbles and weeds should be removed from the field.
Raising seedlings
For getting higher yield, it should be transplanted like paddy crop. Seedlings should be raised on raised beds in heavy rainfall areas and on flat beds in low rainfall areas.
1) Time of sowing :-Seedlings are raised in June after receiving the first rain.
2) Seed rate :-5 kg seeds/ha for 10 are area for transplanting of one-hectare land.
3) Manures :-Apply 1 tone of well-decomposed FYM.
4) Field preparation:-Land is prepared for nursery by one deep ploughing followed by planking
5) Bed preparation :- Beds of 1 x 1 m as per slope should be made. Clods should be broken and make the surface of the beds fine and friable. The nursery beds may be of any length depending upon the slope of the land but the width should be 1.0 meter. The beds should be about 15 cm higher than surrounding land. To ensure easy drainage of excessive water, channels in between the seedbeds should be provided. Nursery beds should be uniformly leveled and compacted.
6) Sowing method - Open 3-5 cm deep furrows at 10 cm apart with the help of kudali and drill the seeds in the furrows and cover the furrows with soil by hand. This facilitates germination of the seeds and easy weeding as compared to broadcasting method.
7) Aftercare - Remove weeds after 10-12 days of sowing, if necessary, second weeding should be carried out as and when required.
8) Fertilizers - Apply 5 kg ammonium sulphate for quick growth.
Sowing time: Onset of the monsoon
Sowing methods
It is sown by two methods.
(1) Drilling - seeds are drilled in furrows 3-4 cm deep
(2) Transplanting – 3-4 weeks old seedlings should be transplanted in the puddled field. Puddling is done with plough when rains occur with light showers followed by planking. Before pulling out the seedlings, the nursery should be irrigated. In absence of the rains, transplanted field should be irrigated regularly till seedlings are well established.
Seed rate: 5 kg/ha for transplanting of one-hectare area.
Spacing: 30 cm x 7.5 cm, one seedling/hill
Manure and fertilizers
Manures: 15 to 20 CL FYM per hectare
Fertilizers
Apply 20 kg N/ha in addition to seed treatment of 3 g Azospirillum/kg seed of nagli.
Interculturing and weeding
Interculturing and weeding should be carried out as and when required.
Harvesting
The crop is ready for harvest after 120 to 135 days of sowing. Matured earheads are harvested from standing crop and dried on threshing floor for few days. Straw is cut close to the ground later on. Grains are separated by trampling earheads under bullock feet.
Yield: 2500 to 3000 kg grains/ha
5000 to 8000 kg fodder/ha
