RECOMMENDED PACKAGE OF AGRO PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

FOR FINGER MILLET

FINGER MILLET (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.)

The cultivation of finger millet (ragi mandua, nagli, kapai and madua) is widely

distributed extending from Tamil Nadu in South to Uttaranchal in North; Gujarat in West

to Orissa in East and even extending to north – eastern regions including Sikkim. The

area under finger (Eleusine coracana) has declined from 2.6 million ha in early sixties to

around 1.8 million ha in 2002-03. However, the annual production is maintained around

2.6 tonnes with a productivity of around 1.4000 kg/ha.

Finger millet is grown in different seasons in different parts of the county. As a

rainfed crop, it is sown in June – July in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh;

during June in Maharashtra, Orissa, Bihar, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh and Gujrat; and

in April – May in hills at higher altitudes of Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. It is also

grown in the winter season (rabi) by planting in September – October in Karnataka, Tamil

Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and as summer irrigated crop by planting is January –

February in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.

Varieties

A number of high yielding varieties have been evolved and released for

cultivation in different states. The improved varieties are able to meet the specific

requirements of different regions. This includes varieties for drier areas, saline

and sodic soils of Tamil Nadu, for both early and late planting situations in Kharif,

rabi and summer in Karnataka, varieties combining high seed and fodder yield

with earliness for Uttaranchal, blast resistant varieties for disease endemic regions

and varieties suitable for coastal and high rainfall regions of Andhra Pradesh and

Orissa. The varieties recommended for different states are given in table 15 and

salient feature of recently released varieties in table 16.

Season

Finger millet is grown in all the cropping seasons in different parts of the

country. More than 90 per cent of the area is under rainfed conditions, grown

during Kharif season. It is normally sown in June-July in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

31

and Andhra Pradesh; during June in Maharashtra, Orissa, Bihar, Uttaranchal,

Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and in April-May in hills at higher altitudes of Uttar

Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. It is also grown in winter season (rabi) by

planting in September-October in Karnataka,Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

and as a summer irrigated crop by planting in January – February in Karnataka,

Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.

Tillage

Fall ploughing is advantageous for moisture conservation. In the month of

April or May, one deep ploughing with mould board plough followed by

ploughing with wooden plough twice is necessary. Before sowing secondary

tillage with cultivator and multiple tooth hoe to prepare smooth seed bed is

necessary. Minor land smoothening before sowing helps in better in-situ moisture

conservation. Seeds are very small and take 5-7 days to germinate .Hence good

seeds land preparation helps in better germination, minimizes weeds problem

and effective soil moisture conservation.

In Uttaranchal where frequent ploughing operations are difficult to carry

out effective digging and turning of soil, removing perrenial weeds, land

smoothening, providing inward slope with a shallow drain helps in taking out

excess rain water.

.

I. Recommended varieties of finger millet for different states

II Varieties of finger millet released during 1986-2005

State Season Varieties Remarks Andhra Pradesh Early kharif (May-August) AKP 2, Suraj, VR 708 (Champavathi) OEB

10, PR 230 For entire state

Late kharif (July-November) Godavari, Ratnagiri, Gautami and Sarada For North coastal A.P Padmavathi, Kalyani, Saptagiri For Rayalseema & Telangana Late Rabi (November-March) Godavari, Ratnagiri and Gautami For North coastal region Kalyani, Ratnagiri and Gautami For Rayalseema Bihar Kharif (June-September) BR 407, RAU 8, VL 149 For North Bihar Chattisgarh Kharif (June-Sept) PR 202, RAU 8 and BM 9-1 Jarkhand Kharif (June-September) A 404, Birsa Marua 2 (BM 2), VL 149 For Chotanagpur Plateau Gujarat Kharif (June-September) Gujarat Nagli-1, Gujarat Nagli-2, VL 149,

OEB 10 VL 149 is a blast tolerant, early and high yielding variety

Himachal Pradesh Kharif (April-September) VL 124, VL 149 VL 124 is superior in both seed and fodder yield Karnataka Kar or Early Kharif (April-

August) Indaf 9, GPU 26, GPU 45, VR 708

Kharif (July-November) Indaf 8, HR 911, PR 202, MR 1, MR 6, L 5, GPU 28

Indaf 8 and MR 1 to be sown before 20th July GPU 45, GPU 26, GPU 48 can be sown upto August

Late kharif (August-November) Indaf 9, PR 202, GPU 28, GPU 26, GPU 45 and OEB 10

Rabi (October-September) Indaf 7, Indaf 15 and Indaf 9 Indaf 7 possesses cold tolerance Summer (January-May) Indaf 5, Indaf 9, HR 911, GPU 26 and GPU

48 Planting rabi crop beyond October is to be discouraged

Maharashtra Kharif (May-September) VL 149, RAU 8, BM 9-1, GPU 45, Dapoli 1, VL 146

Madhya Pradesh Kharif (June-October) VL 149, PR 202, RAU 8, BM 9-1, GPU 45, OEB 10

Orissa Kharif (June - September) PR 202, VL 149, VR 708, OUAT 2, BM 9-1, AKP 2, Dibyasingh, Neelachal, OEB 10

OUAT 2 is a white seeded variety

Tamil Nadu Maghazipattam(Dec-April) Co 7, Co 11, Co 12, Co 13, Co 14, K 5, K 7, Paiyur 1, TRY 1, OEB 10

Paiyur 1 possesses drought tolerance and hence suitable for dry districts of Salem and Dharmapuri. TRY 1 is tolerant to salinity.

Chitharaipattam (April-August) Co 11, Co 12, Co 13, Paiyur 1, K 7, K 5 Adipattam (June-September) Paiyur 1, Co 11, Co 12, Co 7, Indaf 5 Purattasipattam (Sept.-Dec.) Co 7, Co 11, Co 12, Co 13, K 7, Paiyur 1,

Indaf 5 and VR 708

Uttar Pradesh Kharif (June-September) Nirmal, KM 13, KM 65, PES 110, VL 146 For plains Uttaranchal Kharif (June-October) VL 124, VL 204, PES 400, VL 149, VL 315 For hills

Sl. No. Crop/Variety Pedigree Institute where

developed Year of release

Maturity (Days)

Av Yield Kg/ha Area of Adaption Special features

1. HR 911 UAS 1 x IE 927 PC Unit, Bangalore 1986 110-115 4000-5000 Karnataka It can be grown in rainfed and irrigated conditions

2. Indaf 8 Hullu bele x IE 929 UAS, Bangalore 1986 115-120 3500-4000 Karnataka Long duration type for early sowings

3. Gujarat nagli 2 (NS 109)

Pureline selection GAU Sardar

Krishinagar, Gujarat 1988 110-115 2500-3000 Gujarat High finger number

4. Indaf 9 KI x IE 98 R UAS, Bangalore 1988 100-105 3000-3500 Karnataka For late sown conditions in Kharif

5. KM 13 Pureline selection CSAUA&T, Kanpur 1989 95-110 2500-3000 Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa

6. PES 400 Pureline selection GBPUAT, Pantnagar 1989 98-102 1800-2000 Hills of U.P Early maturity 7. Co 13 Co 7 x TAH 107 TNAU, Coimbatore 1989 110-120 2500-3000 Tamil Nadu

8. TRY 1 Selection from HR 374

TNAU, Coimbatore 1989 100-105 2000-2500 Tamil Nadu Tolerant to salinity

9. VL 124 Selection from local germplasm

VPKAS, Almora 1989 95-100 2000-2500 Hills of U.P Earliness, high seed and fodder yield

10. RAU 8 BR 407 x Ranchi Local

RAU, Dholi 1989 105-110 2200-2500 Bihar and other states

11. Saptagiri (PR 2614)

MR 1 x Kalyani APAU, Perumalapalli 1990 105-110 2500-3000 Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh

12. Indaf 15 IE 927 x IE 67 UAS, Bangalore 1991 110-115 3500-4000 Karnataka 13. VL 149 VL 204 x IE 882 VPKAS, Almora 1991 98-102 2000-2500 All states Wide adaptation, earliness

14. A 404 Selection from germplasm

BAU, Ranchi 1993 110-115 2200-2500 Bihar

15. Gautami (PR 1158-9)

PR 202 x U22 MRS, Vizianagaram 1993 115-120 2800-3000 Andhra Pradesh Tolerance to blast, high yield

16. GN 3 KM 13 x GN 2 GAU, Gujarat 1993 130-136 2200-2500 Gujarat

17. Padmavathi (PPR 2350)

Pureline selection ANGRAU,

Perumalapalli (AP) 1993 110-115 2500-3000 Coastal Andhra Pradesh

18. Dapoli 1 Selection from mutant No. 50-1

KVK, Dapoli 1994 100-110 1500-2000 Konkan regions of Maharashtra

19. Suraj (VR 520)

Pureline selection ANGRAU,

Vizianagaram, (AP) 1994 90-95 2200-2800 All over India

20. KM 65 Selection from exotic germplasm

CSAUA&T, Kanpur 1994 98-102 1800-2100 Uttar Pradesh

21. VL-146 Selection from germplasm

APAU, Perumallapalli 1995 100-105 2500-3000 Andhra Pradesh

22. BM 2 Selection BAU, Ranchi 1995 105-110 2400-2600 Bihar

23. GPU 28 Indaf 5 x IE 1012 PC Unit, Bangalore 1996 110-115 3500-4000 Karnataka Highly blast resistant

24. Birsa marua 2 Pureline selection BAU, Ranchi 1996 110-115 2000-2500 Chotanagapur regions of Jharkand

25. Champavathi (VR 708)

Puerline selection ANGRAU, ARS,

Vizianagaram 1998 90-95 2000-2500

Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa

26. MR 1 Hamsa x IE 927 UAS, Bangalore 1998 125-130 3500-4000 Karnataka Long duration, for early sowings

27. PR 230 (Maruthi)

Pure line selection ANGRAU, Paleru 1998 90-100 2500-3000 Andhra Pradesh (Telangana region)

28. BM 9-1 Mutant from Budha Mandia

OUAT, Berhampur 1999 103-105 2500-3000 Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh & Maharashtra

Moderately resistant to blast and brown spot

29. L-5 Malawi x Indaf 9 UAS, Bangalore 1999 120-125 3500-4000 Karnataka Late variety, for early sowings

30. GPU 26 (I-5 x I-9) IE 1012 PC Unit, UAS,

Bangalore 2000 100-105 3000-3500

Karnataka Early, blast tolerant, suitable late sowings &summer

31. GPU 45 GPU 26 x L 5 PC Unit, UAS,

Bangalore 2001 104-109 2700-2900 Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra

Early, blast resistant

32. Chilika (OEB 10)

GE 68 x GE 156 OUAT,

Bhubaneshwar, Orissa 2001 120-125 2600-2700 Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu

Moderately resistant to blast, resistant to stem borer, late variety

33. TNAU 946 TNAU, Coimbatore 2004 105-115 2000-2500 Tamil nadu -

34. VL 315 UPKAS, Almora 2004 105-115 2600-2800 Uttaranchal Tolerant to finger and neck blast

35. GPU 48 GPU 26 x L 5 PC Unit, UAS,

Bangalore 2005 100-105 3000-3500

Karnataka Early, high yield, blast resistant Suitable for summer also

Seed rate and planting

A plant population of 4 - 5 lakhs (400,000 – 500,000) per ha is optimum for

getting higher yields and higher or lower population than the optimum will

reduce the yield. Line sowing is ideal and seed drills giving a spacing of 22.5-30

cm between rows should be used. Finger millet seeds are very small (400

seeds/g), and the recommended seed rate of 10 kg per hectare will contain about

4 million seeds. Therefore, even when seed drill is used thinning within the row

leaving a spacing of 7.5 –10 cm between plants, must be followed. The

recommended spacing for different states is given in the table. Wider row

spacing (30 cm) and closer plant to plant spacing of 7.5 cm helps in better

establishment of the crop.

Maintenance of optimum population is not a problem in transplanted

crop. Seedlings are to be grown in raised bed for transplanting in the main field.

About 5 kg seeds/ha is enough for the transplanted crop. In general, seedlings of

21-25 days old are ideal for transplanting in rows of 22.5 – 25 cm apart, with 2

seedlings per hill at every 10 cm within row. Sowing by seed cum fertilizer drill is

advantageous for line sowing besides efficient utilization of applied nutrients.

Maintenance of optimum plant population is an important prerequisite for

getting higher yields under rainfed conditions. Poor germination, often, is the

result of inadequate moisture after sowing in low rainfall areas. After

establishment by about 20-27 days of sowing, thinning operation to remove

excess seedlings is necessary.

Similarly, where ever plant population is not uniform, gap filling with 20-

25 days seedlings should be used.

Recommended spacing and manuring for finger millet in different states

State Spacing (cm)

Fertilizers (NPK

Kg/ha)

Rainfed Irrigated

Andhra Pradesh 22.5 x 10.0 40:20:20 60:30:30

Bihar 22.5 x 10.0 40:20:20 40:20:20

Jarkhand 22.0 x 10.0 40:20:20 40:20:20

Gujarat 30.0 x 7.5 40:20:10

Himachal Pradesh 25.0 x 10.0 40:20:0

Karnataka 22.5 to 30 x 7.5 to10 (Rainfed)

22.5 x 10 (Irrigated)

50:40:25 100:50:50

Maharashtra 22.5 x 10.0 25:20:0 50:25:0

Chhattisgarh 25.0 x 15.0 60:30:20

Madhya Pradesh 22.5 x 10.0 40:40:0

Orissa 22.5 x 10 40:20:20 60:20:20

Tamil Nadu 22.5 x 15.0 40:20:20 90:45:45

Uttaranchal 25.0 x 15.0 60:30:20

Manuring and fertilization :

Finger millet responds well to fertilizer application especially to N and P.

The recommended doses of fertilizers vary from state to state and for rainfed and

irrigated crop (Table 17). With judicious application of farmyard manure,

inorganic fertilizer efficiency is enhanced. Entire P2O5 and K2O are to be applied

at sowing, whereas nitrogen is to be applied in two or three split doses

depending upon moisture availability. In areas of good rainfall and moisture

availability, 50% of recommended nitrogen is to be applied at sowing and the

remaining 50% in two equal splits at 25-30 and 40-45 days after sowing. In areas

of uncertain rainfall, 50% at sowing and the remaining 50% around 35 days after

sowing is recommended. Adequate application of FYM, two to three tonnes per

hectare help in better development of root growth.

Bio-fertilizers

Treating seeds with Azospirillum brasilense (N fixing bacterium) and

Aspergillus awamori (P solubilizing fungus) @ 25 g/kg seed is beneficial. In case

seeds are to be treated with seed dressing chemicals, treat the seeds first with

seed dressing chemicals and then with bio-fertilizers at the time of sowing.

Procedure for inoculating seeds with biofertilizers

1. Bio-fertilizer culture specific to the crop is to be used @ 25g per kg of seed.

2. Sticker solution is necessary for effective seed inoculation. This can be

prepared by dissolving 25 g jaggery or sugar in 250 ml water and boiling

for 5 minutes. The solution thus prepared is cooled.

3. Smear the seeds well using the required quantity of sticker solution. Then

add culture to the seeds and mix thoroughly so as to get a fine coating of

culture on the seed.

4. The culture-coated seed is to be dried well in shade to avoid clumping of

seeds.

5. Use the inoculated seeds for sowing.

Soil and moisture conservation

Finger millet is predominantly grown as a rainfed crop on rolling fields there

fore it is essential to adopt soil and moisture conservation practises to achieve

stability in yield . They are (a) Summer ploughing or ploughing after the harvest

of previous crop (b) Ploughing across the slope (c) Errection of small section

bunds at an interval of 10-12m depending up on the slope and levelling the

depressions and (d) Opening a dead furrow at 3.3 to 4.0 m interval.

Weed control

Weeds problem in ragi crop can be effectively managed by cultural and

mechanical measures. In line sown crop 2-3 inter-cultivations and hand

weeding once are necessary. In broadcast crop, 2 effective hand weedings will

minimize weeds as inter-cultivations are not possible. In assured rainfall and

irrigated areas spraying 2, 4-D sodium salt @ 0.75 kg a.i./ha as post-emergent

spray around 20-25 days after sowing effectively control weeds. Alternatively

Isoproturon @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence spray is also effective in control of

weeds. In assured rainfall and irrigated areas oxyflurofen @ 0.1 lt a.i /ha as pre-

emergence.

Irrigation

Land must be converted in to ridges and furrows to facilitate irrigation before

transplanting of crop. For irrigated crop, depending on soil type, weather

condition and duration of variety, 8-14 irrigations are necessary. Irrigate the crop

once in 6-8 days in light soils and once in 12-15 days in heavy soils.

CROPPING SYSTEMS

Crop rotation

Rotation with legumes like green gram / black gram/ rice bean / soybean

in northern states, horse gram,pigeon pea, field bean or groundnut in southern

states will minimize inorganic fertilizer application and also sustain higher

yields. Ragi-ragi rotation must be discouraged as it affects sustainability of soil as

well as crop yield.

Intercropping

Finger millet + pigeon pea combinations in 8-10 : 2 proportion brings

higher returns in Karnataka and 6:2 proportion found profitable in Bihar. Trans

planting of finger millet and simultaneous sowing of pigeon pea avoids

competation between crops Finger millet +soybean in 4:1 proportion or finger

millet + field bean in 8:1 proportion are the other profitable crop combinations. In

Uttaranchal finger millet &soy beans are mixed together in 90:10 per cent

proporation by weight basis and sown is also practiced.

Finger millet + soybean in kharif and oats in rabi is an ideal and

remunerative cropping sequence for northern hilly region.

Cropping sequence

Potato–paddy-finger millet cropping sequence is highly remunerative in

northern Bihar than other cropping sequences. Similarly for Southern Karnataka

or Deccan plateau ragi – potato – maize or ragi – onion – ragi are highly

remunerative cropping sequences. In assured rain fall areas raising early crop of

cow pea or sesamum followed by transplanting of early duration finger millet

can be practiced.

Diseases

Finger millet is affected by a variety of diseases of which blast caused by

Pyricularia grisea is the major problem. The disease is quite severe in kharif crop at

all the growth stages. The losses caused will be more if the disease appears in the

nursery and on the ears affecting the neck and fingers.

Management

a) By growing resistant varieties like GPU 28, GPU 26 and GPU 48.

b) Treating seeds with fungicides like carbendazim @ 2g/kg a day before sowing

c) If necessary spraying the nursery with carbendazim (0.05%) or kitazin (0.1%)

or Ediphefos (0.1%) or Saaf (0.2%)

d) Spray any of the above fungicides at 50 per cent flowering and repeat 10 days

later if Kitazin or Ediphenfos were used to control neck and finger blast.

In recent years, brown spot caused by Drechslera nodulosa is gaining

importance. Its damage could be severe if the crop is subjected to drought or

nutrition deficiency. The disease can be effectively managed by proper nutrition

and water management. Need based spraying of Mancozeb or Saaf (0.2%) can be

resorted to.

Other diseases affecting the crop are mottle streak & streak virus, foot rot

(Sclerotium rolfsii), downy mildew or green ear (Sclerospora macrospora), grain

smut (Melanopsichium eleusinis). Besides, at higher altitudes Cercopspora leaf spot

and in the coastal regions sheath blight (Rhizoctonia sp.) also appear, but are of

minor importance.

Pests

Finger millet attracts several pests of which army worm, cutworm,

stemborer, leaf aphid, grasshoppers, grey weevil, shootfly and ear caterpillars are

important.

Army worms and cut worms

They appear during the early stages and continue upto harvest. The

caterpillars cut seedlings at the base during early stage, which appears as if

grazed by domestic animal. They are active during night and hide under stones

and clods during the day. In later stages of plant growth, these insects act as

defoliators. They are cyclic in nature.

Control

When the symptoms are noticed take up dusting of Malathion 5% @ 24

kg/ha or Endosulfan 4% @ 12 kg/ha or Phasolone 5% @ 24 kg / ha or Quinolfos

1.5% @ 24 kg/ha.

Leaf aphid

It occurs throughout the crop growing period. The nymphs and adults

suck the sap from tender leaves and stem. They can cause serious damage in the

seedling stage upto 30 days.

Control

Spray Dimethioate (0.05%) or quinolfos (0.05%) or Endosulfan (0.07%).

Stemborers

The larva bores into the stem, resulting in dead heart.

Control

Spray the crop with Dimethioate (0.05%) or Phosphamidon (0.05%) or

Monocrotophos (0.04%)

Ear caterpillars

Ear caterpillars appear at dough stage on ears and persist till harvest. The

caterpillars bite the maturing seeds and make a fine web out of their casting and

half eaten grains. This further attracts saprophytic fungi.

Control

Dust Malathion 5% @ 24 kg/ha or Quinolfos 1.5% @ 24 kg/ha or

Endosulfan 4% @ 24 kg/ha or Phosalone 4% @ 24 kg/ha.

NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF SMALL MILLETS Small millets are highly nutritious and even superior to rice and wheat in certain constituents. Finger millet is the richest source of calcium (300-350 mg/100 gm grain) and other small millets are good source of phosphorous and iron too. The protein content range from 7-12% and fat content from 1.12 to 5.0 %. The millet protein has well balanced amino acid profile and good source of methionine, cystine and lycine. These essential amino acids are of special benefit to those who depend on plant food for their protein nourishment. The millet grain contains about 65% carbohydrate, a high proportion of which is in the form of non starchy polysaccharides and dietary fibre which help in prevention of constipation, lowering of blood cholesterol and slow release of glucose to the blood stream during digestion. Millet grains are also rich in important vitamins viz., Thiamine, riboflavin, folin and niacin. It is of interest to note that lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, duodenal ulcer and hyperglycemia (diabetes) are reported among regular millet consumers.

Nutrient composition of millets and cereals (per 100 g) Food gain Protein

(g) Carbohy-

drates (g)

Fat (g)

Crude fibre

(g)

Mineral matter

(g)

Calcium (mg)

Phospho-rous (mg)

Fe (mg)

Millets Finger millet 7.3 72.0 1.3 3.6 2.7 344 283 3.9

Kodo millet 8.3 65.0 1.4 9.0 2.6 27 188 12.0

Proso millet 12.5 70.4 3.1 7.2 1.9 14 206 10.0

Foxtail millet 12.3 60.9 4.3 8.0 3.3 31 290 5.0

Little milet 7.7 67.0 4.7 7.6 1.5 17 220 6.0

Barnyard millet

6.2 65.5 2.2 9.8 4.4 11 280 15.0

Cereals

Wheat 11.8 71.2 1.5 1.2 1.5 41 306 5.3

Rice 6.8 78.2 0.5 0.2 0.6 45 160

Millet grains are known for good shelf life. The grains dried to 10-12% moisture can be stored for many years in farm homes. There are reports of finger millet kept for more than two decades without adverse effect on grain quality. The millet flour and their products also show good shelf life. Besides India, in many countries of Eurasia including China and Japan, foxtail millet, proso millet and barnyard millet have been popular food grains for many centuries.

Essential amino acids contents of millets and cereals (g/100g of proteins)

Amino acids

Finger Millet

Kodo Millet

Proso Millet

Foxtail Millet

Barnyard Millet

Wheat Rice

Isoleucine 4.4 3.0 8.1 7.6 8.8 3.3 3.8

Leucine 9.5 6.7 12.2 16.7 16.6 6.7 8.2

Lysine 2.9 3.0 3.0 2.2 2.9 2.8 3.8

Methionine 3.1 1.5 2.6 2.8 1.9 1.5 2.3

Cystine 2.2 2.6 1.0 1.6 2.8 2.2 1.4

Phenyl alanine

5.2 6.0 4.9 6.7 2.2 4.5 5.2

Tyrosine 3.6 3.5 4.0 2.2 2.4 3.0 3.9

Threonine 3.8 3.2 3.0 2.7 2.2 2.8 4.1

Tryptophan 1.6 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.4

Valine 6.6 3.8 6.5 6.9 6.4 4.4 5.5

Histidine 2.2 1.5 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.3 2.4

In India many different kinds of traditional foods are made and they form the stable diet for many rural and urban households. Ragi is eaten in the form of mudde (dumpling or stiff porridge) and / or roti. Many other traditional foods are made from popped ragi flour mixed with sugar / jaggery / ghee / milk / butter milk and salt. In several rural households a vast variety of traditional snacks are made from ragi and other small millets. The millet grains offer many opportunities for diversified utilization and in adding value. With proper processing it is possible to make many different kinds of food products by adopting appropriate milling, popping and other technologies (see flow chart). Except finger millet other millets resemble rice in grain morphology containing husk, bran and endosperm. Traditionally the husk and bran are separated by hand pounding. However, in recent years milling technology has been improved to enhance the grain quality, save time, as well as energy. Millet mill is available today both for cottage level and large scale processing. Milled millet can be further processed towards various food uses such as flakes, quick food cereals, ready to eat snacks, supplementary foods, extrusion cooking, malt based products, weaning foods, and more importantly health foods . Finger millet flour is easy to make since the endosperm and bran are pulverized freely and in such flour fibre content is normally higher. However, it is possible to reduce fibre content by adopting simple sieving methods. Malting of ragi for food uses is in practice from time memorial in southern India. Ragi has superior malting properties compared to other cereal grains like rice, maize, jowar and bajra. Ragi contain high level of calcium and its protein is

rich in methionine and sulphur containing amino acids. Finger millet while malting does not pose problems of mold growth, or fodder etc. Finger millet malt has acceptable taste, very good aroma and shelf life. The procedure for preparation of ragi malt is briefly described below; Preparation of ragi malt : Well cleaned good quality ragi having good germination should be used for the preparation of malt. The grain should be first washed in water then steep (soak the grains) in clean soft water in a vessel of appropriate size for a period of 18-24 hrs. change the water twice or thrice. After soaking for the required period , the grains are taken out and again washed. After draining the excess water, the grains are spread over a gunny bag or thick cloth, spread thinly and allowed for germination for 36-48 hrs depending upon the temperature and humidity prevailing. It is desirable to cover the grain kept for germination with another cloth so as it facilitate uniform germination. During germination water should be sprinkled as and when necessary to keep the sprouts moist. Two days of germination period is sufficient for ragi. if germination is allowed too long, root and shoot will grow very long causing high malting loss. During germination set of enzymes that promote digestion of food develops. Important among them are starch, protein and fat digesting enzymes. In finger millet since starch content is more and amylase is the most important enzyme produced. After required period of germination the grains are dried in open sun by spreading thinly on a cloth. 6-8 hrs of sun drying should be sufficient. Soon after drying the root lets are removed by rubbing grains gently against dry, clean cloth . the separated root lets are aspirated leaving malted ragi. Malted ragi should be mildly toasted or kilned at 65 – 700C in an iron pan heated at low flame. Malting enhances carbohydrate and protein digestibility and in addition the water soluble vitamins is also enhanced along with increase in the bio-available minerals and other nutrients. The roasted grain is ground into fine flour and sieved through a 80 to 100 sieve mesh or through a muslin cloth. The malt so obtained has improved nutritional quality, enhanced digestive enzymes and is an ideal base to prepare weaning foods, infant foods, malted milk foods, health foods, medical foods etc., Fermented beverage : Finger millet malt is fermented in Africa traditionally to prepare beer. It is a very popular family drink for ceremonial functions. In India also the fermented beverage by name Hadia is very popular among tribal communities in Jarkhand and so also in Nepal and Butan. Finger millet malt mixed with barley malt (50 : 50) can be brewed to produce commercial lager beer.

Popping : Popping is traditionally adopted to prepare ready to eat snacks from millets. Traditionally millet grains are popped in hot sand (above 2000C ) with continuous agitation. The popped millet is separated by sieving. In case of finger millet the whole grain is popped which contains seed coat also; while in other small millets during popping the husk gets separated. Popped finger millet flour develops fine aroma and is extremely popular in south India to make many ready to eat products. Extrusion cooking : These are modern food processing technologies widely adopted for the preparation of ready to eat snacks, nutritious foods, weaning foods, health foods etc. small millets have potential for preparing value added products based on these technology. Baking :

Finger millet flour upto 30-40% can be blended with wheat flour for the preparation of bread, cookies and other baked products. High fibre special bakery products especially made from finger millet is suitable for diabeties.

ROLE OF SMALL MILLETS IN WIDENING FOOD BASE AND NUTRITION

SECURITY Millet crops are important in the overall development of agriculture in the country. As bulk of the production is consumed at the farm / village level, the real value of these crops has not been appreciated and their role not recognized in imparting food security to a large section of farming community (Vulnerable groups)in different parts of the country. The assured harvest of these crops has made them an important component of dry land, hill and tribal agriculture in many states. National food security could only be effective when food and fodder needs of the region are met within the region itself. At present there is excessive dependence on two food crops namely; rice and wheat for maintaining / sustaining food self – sufficiency. This has made not only the food security very fragile but also shrunken the food basket. This has further led to imbalance as well as undesirable dependence for food and feed needs on their regions. This needs correction and more ideal situation would be producing the required food within the state / region itself by promoting and developing locally / regionally important rainfed crops. The changed dietary patterns largely dependent on rice and wheat which has led to widespread nutritional deficiency. The prevalence of micro-nutrients deficiency even in the quite affluent population is a matter of serious concern. This is hampering the normal functioning of human body making it more vulnerable to diseases and even bringing down normal physical fitness in the cross section of the population to day. In order to alleviate this problem and make food security meaningful, millets in general and small millets in particular could play a major role. Millets being eco-friendly crops are suitable for fragile and vulnerable ago-ecosystems and should be preferred crops for sustainable and green agriculture. The promotion of millet crops can lead to much efficient natural resource management and ultimately to a more holistic approach in sustaining precious agro-biodiversity.

FEEDING VALUE OF MILLET STRAWS The chemical composition of some millets is given below.

Straw Composition (% on DM basis)

CP EE CF NFE

Finger millet 3.4 1.3 37.2 50.0

Kodo millet 3.5 1.5 34.3 48.4

Foxtail millet 8.2 1.2 32.9 42.1

Proso millet 4.8 1.2 35.5 49.6

CP : Crude protein; EE : Either Extract; CP : Crude Fibre; NFC : Nitrogen Free Extractions Cattle and buffaloes maintained solely on millet can meet their energy

requirement for maintenance and further improvement in intake and utilization

can be achieved by supplementing the critical nutrients and by adopting

processing methodologies to enhance fibre utilization. Concentrate

supplementation at 20% of the dietary dry matter (DM) improves the intake of

dry mater of finger millet straw. Addition of small amounts of specific bypass

protein like fish meal or cotton seed meal to straw diets also substantially

improves the rumen fermentation and subsequently the production performance.

Urea ammoniation (4% w/w, in 100 litre of water) of finger millet straw has

shown beneficial effects in the form of increased dry matter intake (25-30%),

organic matter digestibility (10-15 units) and total digestible nutrients (10-15

units) and total digestible nutrients (10-12 units) as compared to untreated straw.

The digestibility of nutrients from the crop residues is generally low and are

therefore, considered as poor quality roughage. In spite of their low nutritive

value, the use of straws and stovers for animal feeding together with the

possibilities to improve their feeding value is a topic of top priority in the

scientific community. Results of the systematic research work conducted of finger

millet straw under Indo-Dutch project on “Bioconversion of Crop Residues” at

National Dairy Research Institutes, Bangalore in collaborating with AICRP on

small millets, GKVK, Bangalore clearly indicated that variation in the chemical

composition and digestibility of straw exists due to genetic and managemental

practices and the quality of straw can be manipulated to the advantage without

any detrimental effect on grain yield.

Although some feeding trails have been conducted to evaluate the grain, straw

and forage of finger millet as animal feed, information on other millets is limited.

A balance has to be maintained in the cultivars evolved for higher grain yield

and the nutritive value of crop residues. Here is scope for selection of dual

purpose varieties, which could give high grain yield and good quality straw. A

reduction in the feeding value of crop residue might result in poor adaptation of

the new variety by the farmers.

The chemical composition (%DM) of finger millet and reported acid detergent

insoluble protein (ADICP) 2.3, neutral detergent fiber 24.1 and Acid detergent

fibre 9.4%. Apart from the indigestible protein, the NDF was higher in finger

millet as compared with that of maize and sorghum. These two factors possibly

limited the use of finger millet as a complete substitute for maize in the diet of

monogastric species such as pigs and poultry.

Small millets as birds feed : All most all the small millets are used as birds feed

either whole or broken grains are fed to birds.

Feeding value of proso millet, sorghum grains and corn in broiler diets was

studies. It was found that proso millet was similar to sorghum but lower than

maize in true metabolizable energy (TME) content and were lower in gross

energy (GE) metabolized (TME/GE) than were maize and sorghum.

Replaced maize with either raw ground, germinated or pelleted foxtail millet at

50 and 100% levels in broiler diets on an isonitrogenous and isoenergetic basis

and found that pelleting of foxtail millet improved the performance of broilers

when compared with raw, germinated or maize-based diets.

The ME value of about 3100 Kcal/Kg of Indaf-5 ragi variety used in broilers. The

lower ME value of ragi both in broilers and layers, has been attributed mainly to

the non-starch polysaccharide content of ragi, which would cause less availability

of nutrients and also to the tannin content of ragi which might inactivate some of

the host enzymes (amylases, proteases and lipases) leading to poor digestibility

or metabolisability.

In poultry feed proso millet at 0,25, 50, 75, and 100% levels replacing maize on

weight to weight basis in the feed for broiler checks to examine the performance

and found that the feed consumption was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in all the

proso containing diets. Increase in feed consumption was due to a short fall in

bioavailability of dietary energy. Which was in turn because of higher levels of

crude fiber in the diets.

Small millets are mainly grown under dry land conditions. Due to uncertainties

of rains both grain and crop residue are of equal importance under scoring the

inter dependence of crops and live stock. Under such farming system, the

economics of crop production must invariably take into account the market value

of the crop residue. Although, growing finger millet does not bring higher

returns to farmer but he continues to grow because he values the straw of the

crop equally.