Finger millet - Photo by Biodiversity International
Finger millet is a cereal grown mainly in drier regions of Africa and Asia. Seeds are used to make flour which can be used to make bread, porridge or pancakes.
In some regions finger millet is used for human consumption as a staple food. Seeds are also used as animal feed.
Names
Scientific
Eleusine coracana
English
African millet
Finger millet
Koracan
Ragi
Dutch
Vingergierst
French
Coracan
Éleusine
Eleusine cultivee
Koracan
German
Fingerhirse
Taxonomy
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Eleusine
Species
Eleusine coracana (Finger millet)
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Finger millet originates from east Africa, possibly Uganda or Ethiopia.
Distribution:
Finger millet is cultivated in the drier areas of Africa and Asia, with highest production in India.
Annual, biennial, or perennial:
Finger millet is an annual plant.
Flowers:
The plants produces clusters of 4 to 6 ears, which are 5 to 15 cm long.
Climate and weather:
Finger millet grows well in semi-arid tropical climates and is also adapted to high altitude in mountainous regions.
Height:
Finger millet usually is between 40 and 100 cm high.
Spacing:
Finger millet is often grown intercropped with other plants such as peanut, cowpea, pigeon pea and Niger seeds.
Propagation:
Finger millet is grown from seed.
Insect pests:
Diseases:
Harvesting:
Usually harvested by hand. The seeds can be stored for a long time.
Uses:
Finger millet is often used for human consumption, sometimes as a staple food. It is ground to flour which can be used to prepare bread or porridge. The seeds are also used as animal fodder.
Did you know that?
Several small grain cereals are all known by the name “Millet” but are actually different crop species.
Crop categories
Arid crops
Cereals
Forage and fodder crops
Minor crops
Staple food
Subtropical crops
Tropical crops
Pictures
Finger millet - Photo by DFID
Finger millet - Photo by Dinesh Valke