We are able to realize the climate change in recent years. Temperature rise, climate change and scarcity of water such factors are greatly affected agriculture. We have to change our heart first to face the climate change. We usually grow crops which require more water can be avoided and grow drought tolerant, less water, short term yielding nutrient rich grain crops may be grown. Foxtail millet, kodo millet, little millet are traditionally cultivated crops by our ancestors. The changing of the seasons is the most suited for this crop. Also, on a healthy diet containing minerals, fibre and vitamins.

Small millets suited for rainfed :

Crop Management

Basal

In our state for all soil types, lower level of organic Carbon , medium P and zinc and boron are found in lowest level. So get ready for sowing the land in accordance with the 2000 kg of compost per acre of farm yard manure (a) requires applying composted coir pith. In addition, the rate of 20 kg of slurry and FYM along with 4 packets of phosphobacteria per acre mixed with compost or sand and applied to the soil.
For small millets there are typically 40 kg urea and 56 kg super per hectare is recommended. If applied as 20 kg per ha of DAP and 30 kg of urea to be applied.
In red soil, 10 kg of zinc sulphate and 1 kg of micronutrient boron mixed with lime in the black soil mixed with 10 kg of ferrous sulphate mixed with 150 kg of FYM and applied as a basal.

Sowing:

Before sowing 3 pockets (200 g) of Azophos mixed with required seeds for an acre and with this seed rice porridge is mixed and this to be dried in the shade. Sow the seeds in a row after a suitable interval. Crops need to maintain the number of germinated in two weeks.

Weed Management:

20 days and 40 days after sowing , weeding should be done.

Management Strategies:

Small millets are harvested in short days after seed germination. This takes away from the impact of the disease. However, given the low level of yield loss and disease will consider methods to address them.

Foxtail Millet :

• Blast : Blast in leaves can be seen as dots appear in grey. The disease is much less in grains. It spreads by seed. Also nearby ragi, rice crops, such as if the secondary fungus spread through the air and attack the small millet.

• Control measure : 120 g Triclozan per acre mixed in 200 litres of water and spray.

• Leaf blight : the edge of the leaves will become withered as leaf blight appeared.

Banyard Millet :

• There is no much disease incidence in Barnyard millet.

• Leaf blight: a small pink spots appear on the leaf. All part of the leaves will be scorched. With the increasing downward impact on the tip of the leaf scorched and die.

Prevention: mostly minor millets diseases infested through seed and soil. The following methods to handle them.

• Small grain seeds treated with Trichoderma viridi  4 g Pseudomonas 1 kg should be mixed with 15 kg of dung  or mixed with 10 kg of sand and to be applied during the last ploughing.

• Fungicides: 2 g Carbendazim should be mixed with 1 kg of seed sowing can be done.

• Diseases mostly don’t cause much yield loss. So in rainfed areas if we cultivate small millets we  can get  higher yield.

Harvest: Riped grain harvested,dried in the ground and beaten to separate the grains.

Our traditional foods prepared with small millets eaten would give health benefits. Value added produces can be made from this millets. Foods rich in nutrients from these millets can yield good price if available in the market.

"BY PLANTING SMALL MILLETS , CLIMATE CHANGE CAN BE TACKLED"

Source :

Professor and Head,
Dryland Agriculture Research Station,
TNAU,
Phone: 04565 – 283080