Millet is widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food.
Altitude: 0-2400m above sea level.
Rainfall: 250mm per annum.
Soils: Does well in varied soil types which are most except the course sand.
Temperature: Thrives well in a wide range of temperature but the crop is susceptible to frost.
Varieties
Finger millet: P224, Gulu E, KAT/FM-1, Lanet FM-1
Pearl millet: KAT /FM-1, KAT/FM-2, KAT/FM-3
Proso/common millet: KAT/pro-1
Fox tail: KAT/Fox-1
Land preparation
Plough the land early during the dry spell; plough deeply to expose pests such as millet head miner to adverse weather and predators; remove all weeds especially the perennials, stumps and other obstacles. Harrow the seedbed to a fine tilth desirable for millet production. Add 8-12 tons of organic manure depending on soil fertility status and incorporate with soil.
Planting
Planting should be done before or during the onset of rains to ensure that the crop maximally utilizes the available moisture during the growing period. Plant seeds at a depth of 2.5cm to 4cm when soil is moist and 5cm when soil is dry. Spacing depends on millet variety as follows: 60cm by 15cm for pearl millet, finger millet and fox tail millet, and 30cm by 10cm for proso/common millet. Seed rate will also depend on the millet variety planted; 3kg per hectare for finger millet, 5kg per hectare for pearl and foxtail millet, 4kgs per hectare for proso millet.
Thinning
Should be done 2 weeks after crop emergence, when the crop attains 15cm in height.
Weed management
Keep the field weed free during the growing period. Weeding should be done twice, 1st weeding done 2 to 3 weeks after crop emergence and 2nd weeding after first weeding.
Fertilizer application
Apply 125kg NPK per hectare during planting, top dress with 125kg CAN per hectare if soil is poor in terms of fertility.
Pest management
Spotted stem borer: Practice good field hygiene, use insecticide such as thuricides, use neem or pyrethrum extracts when the caterpillars are small.
African army worm: Observe field sanitation, spray with thuricide, use neem/pyrethrum extracts when the caterpillars are small.
Millet head miner: Plough deeply during land preparation to expose the pest to scorching sun and predators.
Disease management
Crazy top downy mildew: Controlled by planting resistant varieties, field sanitation and crop rotation with non-cereals.
Long smut: Plant resistant variety, rotate the crop with non-cereals, practice field sanitation.
Ergot: Plant resistant variety, remove and destroy the affected panicles, crop rotation with non-cereals, practice good field hygiene.
Harvesting
Harvesting done 2-4 months depending on variety, thresh the grains and dry them well to a moisture content of around 12%. Well dried and dressed grains can be stored for at least 5 years after harvesting.