most other millets or made into beer, for local consumption. It often produces some
yield where other cereal crops would have failed due to drought.
The plant is a short, hardy annual, about 1–1.5 m tall, which is normally self-
pollinated. It is less susceptible to bird damage than the other millets or sorghum.
In parts of Africa and India many different varieties are available, which are
often grown together in the same field.
The seed, which is sometimes yellow or white but is more normally brown or red
in colour, is 1–2 mm in diameter, with about 300,000 450,000 grains per kg.
One of the best attributes of finger millet is that its seed can remain viable for up
to ten years if it is stored in a cool, dry place. In marginal conditions, finger millet is
stored in this way for use in emergencies such as famine. The seed is a rich source of
calcium (0.33–0.36%), as well as phosphorus and iron.
PLANTING
Soil: a wide range of soil types are suitable, though reasonably fertile sandy soils are
best. Finger millet responds well to fertilisers (and good management); average
applications are, in kg/ha, N 25–90, P 20–45, and K 0–45.
Seed rate: 20–30 kg/ha broadcast, 5–10 kg/ha sown in rows.
Seed spacing: there are 400–500 seeds per gram. Often mixed with legumes or
sorghum. In a monoculture, the rows are about 45 cm apart. Five or six seeds are
often planted in groups at 20 cm intervals along the row, and thinned later.
Intercropping: very common, with pigeon peas and other legumes, sorghum, Niger
seed, etc.
GROWTH CONDITIONS
(105–110) and late (115 or more days). Many older varieties mature in 125 days or
more.
root system, which although quite extensive is shallow. The plants respond well to
irrigation, but do not like heavy rainfall.
Altitude: 0–2000 metres. In Africa, mainly above 1000m.
Pests: the plants can harbour the wheat curl mite, a vector of wheat streak mosaic
virus, so wheat should not follow a finger millet crop.
Weeds: young finger millet plants (2.5–5 cm tall) should be well weeded. The wild
species, Eleusine africana, is identical to finger millet before flowering and can
become a big problem.
can cause leaf spots, seedling blight and head blight. Grain smut has been reported.
YIELD
The average for finger millet is about 1 MT/ha, though more than 4 MT/ha is quite
possible. In Africa the whole head is usually cut off with a knife and stored until
–
Depth: 1–2 cm (3 cm maximum). The land should be well prepared.
Rainfall: 600 1300 mm/a, which should be well distributed due to finger millet s – ’
124 TONY WINCH
Growth period: there are 3 types of finger millet: early (95–100 days), medium
Pests & diseases: these are rarely any problem, but Helminthosporium diseases