This document provides information on finger millet (Ragi), including its scientific name, top producing states in India, nutritional value, suitable growing conditions, cultivation practices and more. It is predominantly grown in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Finger millet is well adapted to tropical and subtropical climates from sea level to 2100 meters, in areas with 500-1000mm of annual rainfall. It can be cultivated through various methods like broadcasting, drilling or transplanting. Varieties suited for different seasons include AKP-2, AKP-7, Kalyani and VZM-2. Finger millet is nutritionally rich and highest in calcium content among millets.

1. 32.రాగి ( Ragi )
(FINGERMILLET)
Scientific name: Eleusine coracana
Family: Poaceae
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4.  In fact, it is the main cereal crop for monsoon season in some hilly areas.
 It is predominantly grown as a dry land crop in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
and Tamil Nadu.
 Finger millet contributes nearly 40% of total small millet produce of India,
occupying nearly 3.2 million ha.
 Ragi is relished mostly by the rural population of southern India for the
nutritious meal it provides.

5.  It is grown both for grain and forage. In northern hills, grains are eaten mostly in the form of
‘Chapaties’ and halwa.
 In South India, grains are used in many preparations like cakes, sweets etc.
 - Germinating grains are malted and fed to infants also.
 - It is also good for pregnant woman
 - It is a nutritive food for adults of different ages.
 - It is good for persons suffering from diabetes
 - The green straw is suitable for making silage, which gives sweet smell and consumed by
cattle with out wastage.
 - Besides vitamin A&B phosphorus is also present in smaller quantities.
 - The grain is nutritionally rich and the richest in ‘calcium’

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9. Proteins - 9.2%
Fat - 1.29%
Carbohydrates - 76.32%
Minerals - 2.24%
Ash - 3.90%
Calcium - 0.33%
NUTRITIONAL STATUS

10. ORIGIN: INDIA
Area Production Productivity
1. India 1.138 m.ha 1.821 m.tons 1601 kg/ha
2. Telangana 920 ha 514tons 559 kg/ha
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11. ADAPTATION:
 It is a crop of tropical and subtropical climate and can be grown
successfully from sea level to an altitude of 2100 mts on hill slopes
as well as in plains.
 It is a hardy crop.
 It is grown in areas having annual average rainfall between 500
to 1000 mm. In regions of higher rainfall it can be raised on well
drained soils as a transplanted crop.
 It can be grown under rainfed as well as irrigated conditions.

12. 33. Ragi

13. SOILS:
 It can be grown on a wide variety of soils ranging from very poor to very fertile
soils.
 Clay soils, heavy black cotton soils, gravelly and stony soils with poor fertility
and drainage are not suitable.
 It can tolerate salinity better than other cereals.
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14. LAND PREPARATION:
 The first ploughing with mould board plough should be done immediately
after the harvest of the previous crop.
 With the onset of monsoon, field should be ploughed with local plough 2-3
times and finally leveled.
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15. SEASON: Finger millet is not a season bound crop. So, it can be grown through
out the year, if water is available,
 The main seasons are
 1. Punasa Ragi (or) Burada Chodi:
 Finger millet is grown in wetlands, prior to planting of rice in slushy conditions by taking advantage of monsoon
rains in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam Dist. Short duration varieties (AKP -2) are preferred for this season.
Twenty five percent Ragi in above districts is under this season (May-Aug).
 2. Main Season (or) Pedda Panta:
 The main area under Ragi crop during this season (Aug-Nov) accounts for 50% area of Srikakulam and
Visakhapatnam. Suitable varieties are AKP -7 and Kalyani (WR – 652)
 3. Pyru season:
 Remaining 25% of area is under pyru season. (Nov/Dec – Feb/ March). As the crop is grown under assured
irrigated conditions, the yields are high.VZM-2 is recommended.

16. SEEDS & SOWINGS:
 Sowing is done by Broadcasting, drilling, sowing in shallow furrows and transplanting.
 1. Broadcasting: In dry lands sowing is done by broadcasting and seed is covered by working with blade harrow
which is generally practiced in coastal districts of A.P & T.N. Seed rate is 8 Kg/ ha
 2. Drilling: Finger millet is also sown by bullock drawn seed drills in shallow depths of 3-4 cms. This is generally
adopted in Rayalaseema & Telangana regions of A.P and Karnataka.
 3. Sowing in shallow furrows: In Karnataka, seeds are mixed with cattle manure and sown in furrows drawn by 3
tined drills. Furrows are covered by blade harrow. Seed requirement in this method is higher than normal
recommendation.
 4. Transplanting: It is practiced under assured irrigation. 1) Ridges and furrows 2) Flat bed method. Seeds are
raised in nurseries and after 20 days, seedlings are ready for transplanting in main field.
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17.  Seed rate: 4-6 kg/ha.
 SPACING: 15x15 cm or 15x15cm – for long duration varieties
15x10 cm – for Short duration varieties
 Seed Treatment:
 Seed purification can increase the percentage of sprouting, sturdiness, and pest resistance.
 Seed can be treated with cow urine, Jeevamrutham, Panchagavvya, Biofertilizers and
Amruthapani.
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18. MANURES & FERTILIZERS:
 For Nursery: FYM : 10t/ha Incorporation before sowing
40-40-40 kg N, P2O5 and K2O/ha
 For main field: FYM: 10t/ha – Before sowing
60-30-30 kg N, P2O5 and K2O/ha
 N is applied in 2 Splits
 1. At the time of transplanting – ½ dose of N along with full dose of P and K.
 2. Remaining dose of N at 30 DAS.

19. Fertilizer in organic farming depends on the following factors:
 On nutrients such as those in the soil.
 On the nutrients from the rain.
 On top of the soil fertilizer.
 Above ground microorganisms (nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphorus, solubilizer bacteria, potash
solubilizer).
 Depends on the nutrients sprayed on the crops.
 10 tonnes of cattle manure per acre in the last Tillage.
 Spray the liquid Jeevamrutham once every 15 days.
 Spray 3% Panchagavvya at the time of Crop Season twice or thrice.
 Apply 200 kg of Ghaanajeevamrutham per acre twice or thrice.

20. IRRIGATION:
 Ragi sown during Kharif, generally does not need any irrigation.
Adequate moisture should be provided at the time of flowering and
grain setting stages.
 It can not tolerate waterlogged conditions. Hence, drainage facilities
should be provided.
 After establishment of seedlings for a week or 10 days, irrigation should
be cut off. This helps in hardening of seedlings and for vigorous and
healthy growth.
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21. WEED MANAGEMENT:
 It is essential to control weeds in the initial stage of plant growth and
development.
 Weeding should be done with hand hoe after 25 days of sowing.
 2-3 hoeings would be sufficient to control the weeds in problems
areas.
 Hand weeding gives satisfactory control of weeds.

22. HARVESTING OF THRESHING:
 The crop matures in about 4-4 ½ months depending on the tract and the variety.
 irrigated or transplanted crop produces more tillers than that grown in drylands.
 Earheads on main hoots matures earlier than tillers. As & when earheads are
matured harvesting is done generally 2 or 3 times.
 Harvested earheads are kept on floor and covered by gunny bags or tarpaulins
which rings change in colour to all the grain in earhead.
 It is dried & threshed by stone roller or cattle.
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23. YIELD ATTRIBUTES:
 Number of plants per unit area
 Number of tillers per unit area
 Number productive tillers per unit area
 Number of fingers per earhead
 Number of filled grains per earhead
 Test weight

24. YIELD
 Rainfed: 7- 8 q/ha - grain
11-18 q/ha – fodder
 Irrigated: 30-35 q/ha - grain
35-50 q/ha – fodder,

25. Varieties:
 Kalyani – Released in 1971 from ARS, Pelumallaplle
 Sarada - Relesed in 1972 in 1971 RARS, Anakapalli.
 Godavari - Released in 1974 - ARS, Peddapuram
 Simhadri - Released in 1981 – ARS Vijayanagaram
 Ratnagiri - Released in 1985 – ARS, Peddapuram
 Hamsa, co-9 – White grained var. with protein (12%) others (7.9%) The other varieties are AKP-2, Suraj,
Padmavathi, VZM-1, Sapthagiri, Maruthi, Gauthami, Bharathi, Champavathi etc.

26. Cropping System
 Finger millet in rainfed conditions is cultivated generally as a mixed crop with
sorghum, pearl millet and a variety of oil seeds and pulses.
 In hilly areas it is grown mixed with soybean.
 Under irrigated conditions, it is grown in rotation with crops like tobacco,
vegetables, turmeric, Bengal gram, linseed, mustard etc.

27.  Some of the most prevalent cropping sequences are
 Finger millet - Bengal gram
 Finger millet - Mustard
 Finger millet - Tobacco
 Finger millet - Groundnut
 Finger millet - Sugarcane
 Finger millet - potato – maize
 Finger millet - potato – maize
 Finger millet - potato – finger millet
 Finger millet – rice
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28. Thank you
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