Finger Millet (Ragi / Eleusine)
Eleusine coracana
About Finger Millet (Ragi / Eleusine)
Finger millet is the most nutritious of all millets and a critical food security crop for highland East Africa and southern India. It has the highest calcium content of any cereal (344 mg/100g), three times that of milk, making it vital for bone health in communities without dairy access. The grain stores for decades without insect damage (due to polyphenol content), making it the ultimate famine reserve crop. Finger millet grows at 1,000-2,400 m elevation where maize is unreliable. India (Karnataka) and East Africa (Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania) are the major producers. The crop is gaining global attention as a 'superfood' due to its nutritional profile.
Growing Conditions
Full sun
500-1,000 mm per crop. Moderately drought-tolerant. Requires moisture at flowering/grain fill.
Well-drained, slightly acidic loam. pH 5.0-6.5. Grows on marginal soils where wheat and maize cannot.
Optimal 22-28°C. Cool highland crop (1,000-2,400 m in tropics). Tolerates moderate cold.
Moderate. High humidity during heading promotes blast disease.
Warm season — 90-130 days. Plant at onset of long rains in East Africa.
Step-by-Step Growing Tips
Transplant 25-30 day old seedlings at 25 × 10 cm for highest yields
Apply 40-60 kg N/ha in 2 splits — at transplanting and at tillering
Weed thoroughly in first 30 days — finger millet establishes slowly
Protect against blast with fungicide at heading stage if weather is humid
Harvest when fingers (panicle branches) turn brown and grain is hard
Thresh gently (finger millet grain is small) and store in airtight containers
Disease Risks to Watch
All diseases →Companion Planting
✅ Good Companions
Growing Zones
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to plant Finger Millet (Ragi / Eleusine)?
Warm season — 90-130 days. Plant at onset of long rains in East Africa.
What soil does Finger Millet (Ragi / Eleusine) need?
Well-drained, slightly acidic loam. pH 5.0-6.5. Grows on marginal soils where wheat and maize cannot.
How much water does Finger Millet (Ragi / Eleusine) need?
500-1,000 mm per crop. Moderately drought-tolerant. Requires moisture at flowering/grain fill.
What are the most common diseases affecting Finger Millet (Ragi / Eleusine)?
The most common diseases are: finger millet blast. Monitor regularly and practice crop rotation.
What plants grow well with Finger Millet (Ragi / Eleusine)?
Good companions include: pigeon-pea, field-bean. Avoid planting near no specific plants.
Related Crops — Poaceae
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