Common millets grown in India are Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Kodra etc. Finger Millet, or ragi, is favored by fitness enthusiasts seeking healthier grain options than rice or wheat.
Millet thrives in various soils, from poor to fertile, and can endure some alkalinity. Ideal soils include alluvial, loamy, and sandy types with excellent drainage.
Choose high-quality, certified millet seeds from a reliable source. Ensure they are healthy, uniform, and free from pests or diseases, with a good germination rate.
Irrigation for millet is crucial during growth stages like tillering, flowering, and grain development, provided water is available. During summer, ensure regular irrigation for pearl millet.
Pests and diseases harm millet crops, lowering yield and quality. Aphids, stem borers, and caterpillars are common pests. Diseases like mildew and blasts also damage crops.
Millet is harvested by hand using a knife or sickle. The panicles are cut and collected in baskets or bags, then stored on a wooden rack to dry before they are threshed.