Climatic Requirements

Millets are predominantly warm-season crops and are well-suited to dryland and rainfed farming systems. Optimal growth occurs between 25°C and 35°C. Most millets are tolerant to high temperatures. Millets require moderate rainfall ranging from 300 mm to 600 mm annually. However, some varieties can grow with even less rainfall. They can be grown from sea level to elevations of 2,000 meters, depending on the variety.

Soils

Millets grow well on sandy loam, loamy and well-drained alluvial soils. Some millets tolerate slightly alkaline or acidic soils. Well-drained soils are essential as waterlogging can adversely affect crop growth.

Sowing Time & Methods

Kharif Season (Main season): June to July, with the onset of monsoon.

Rabi Season: October to November (in southern States like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for millets like finger millet).

Summer Season: February to March (in limited irrigated areas).

Broadcasting method of sowing is common in traditional farming in which seeds are scattered manually. Line sowing is preferred for better crop management. Seeds are sown in rows using seed drills or manually, ensuring proper spacing.

Growing States

• Pearl Millet (Bajra) in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
• Finger Millet (Ragi) in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.
• Sorghum (Jowar) in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Foxtail Millet in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
• Little Millet, Kodo Millet and Barnyard Millet in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and the northeastern states.

Varieties

Various varieties of millets are grown in India, viz., Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl millet), Ragi (Finger millet), Sawa (Barnyard millet), Cheena (Proso millet), Kangni (Foxtail millet), Kodo (Kodo millet), Kutki (Little millet).

Jowar (Sorghum)

Sorghum is a rainfed staple cereal grown in the semi-arid and arid land areas of India. It is a staple human food as well as an important fodder for animals. Sorghumis cultivated during rainy (kharif) and post-rainy seasons. The kharif Sorghum is grown between the months of July and October while rabi Sorghum is grown during October-February. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are the major Sorghum growing States in the country. Soils with clay loam or loam texture having good water-retention capacity are most suited for Sorghum cultivation.

Bajra (Pearl millet)

India is the largest producer of Pearl millet in the world with 8.75 million hectares of marginal and sub-marginal land area under its cultivation. This important rainfed crop is primarily grown in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Warm dry climate with adequate soil moisture is suitable for Pearl millet. Loamy sands to well-drained loams free from salinity and alkalinity are ideal for the crop. Pearl millet is a grain rich in minerals, protein, essential amino acids and fat content.

Small millets

Small millets include six small-seeded crops, viz., finger millet, foxtail millet, porso millet, kodo millet, little millet and barnyard millet. These are primarily rainfed crops grown in an area of 2.29 million hectares in India with Finger millet occupying the largest area (1.6 million hectares). Small millets are well suited to diverse agro-climatic conditions of soil, temperature and altitudes and are thus grown at the sea-level in the south to the hills in Uttarakhand and North-east.

Water Management

Millets are drought-tolerant and typically grown under rainfed conditions, requiring minimal irrigation. One or two irrigations may be needed during prolonged dry spells, especially at critical growth stages such as tillering, flowering and grain filling. Techniques like mulching, contour bunding and use of organic matter help retain soil moisture. Rainwater harvesting and farm pond systems are also encouraged in millet-growing areas to support supplemental irrigation.

Weed Control

Besides manual, mechanical weeding and taking the help of organic mulches, an effective weed control in millets include applying pre-emergence herbicides like Atrazine (0.5 to 1.0 kg/ha) or Pendimethalin immediately after sowing for some millet varieties. Post-emergence herbicides are used cautiously, depending on the millet variety and weed type.