Botanical name: Echinochloa frumentacea L.
Family: Gramineae
Origin: Central Asia

Barnyard millet popularly known as a sawan (banti) is an important food crop of the poor peoples inhabiting the dry land areas of India. Because of its drought hardiness, robust and quick growing habit, it occupies large acreage in dry regions. It does well in the marginal soils with poor soil fertility. It has very low cost of production. The crop matures rather early (80 to 90 days) and provides a good gap filling of food crop. Sometimes, when there is a shortage of food, farmers can grow as an emergence food crop and quickly harvest some edible grains to meet their immediate food requirements.
Economic importance
Sawan grain contains 6.2 % protein and are consumed just like rice. They are also used in mixing rice pudding (Kheer). It is also used as feed for cage birds. The straw makes good fodder for cattle. Its green fodder is very much relished by cattle.

Climate: Warm and moderately humid climate is good for its cultivation.

Soil
Does well on sandy loam-to-loam soil having sufficient amount of organic matter. Gravely and stony soils with poor fertility are not suitable for this crop.

Field preparation
Field is prepared by two cross ploughing or by tractor drawn cultivator followed by planking to make field fine and friable. Field is prepared after onset of monsoon.

Sowing time: Sowing should be done with onset of monsoon.

Sowing method: Drilling 3-4 cm deep.

Seed rate: 8 to10 kg seed/ha
Seed treatment
Seeds should be treated with 3 to 4 gram sulphur/kg of seeds for control of false smut.

Spacing 30 cm x 15 cm
Manures 12-15 CL FYM or compost per hectare.



Irrigation: Generally does not requires any irrigation

Weeding and interculturing:
Two to three hand weedings and interculturing as and when required.

Plant protection:
The crop is not damaged by any insect-pest or diseases except grain smut.

Mixed cropping
Banti is also taken as a mixture with pigeon pea, green gram etc.

Harvesting
Earheads are harvested and dried in sunlight and threshing should be done by trampling under bullock feet. The grains are cleaned and stored. Storage can be done for longer time.

Yield : 1500-2000 kg/ha

Varieties
Banti Gujarat 1: Matures in 80-85 days and gives 20.2 % higher yield than local cultivar. It is also resistant to certain insect-pest and diseases.