How to grow Millet

Millets are grasses or cereals grown for their edible seeds. Millet is a drought tolerant crop. Some millet varieties survive drought conditions where the maize fails to reach maturity.

Ecological requirements

Altitude
Millet grows best at altitudes from 0-2400m above sea level

RainfallMillet requires well distributed rainfall throughout the growing season. Water requirements also depend with the variety/type of millet.

Land preparation
It is recommended that land preparation be done early. Fine soils in the seedbed ensure that the small grains germinate, therefore large clods should be broken or the land harrowed after the first ploughing.

Planting
Planting is done on the onset of rains or before. If the population is high, thin when the plants are at least 2 weeks after emergence. The depth of planting is determined by when planting was done. On the onset of rains, planting depth should be 2.5-4cm and when dry planting 5cm. Seed rate is 1.5-2.5kg per acre depending on the variety. Good spacing is 60cm distance between rows and 15cm between plants for the pearl millet variety and 30cm between rows, 10cm between plants for finger millet, fox tail and proso millet.

Fertilizer and manure application
Compound fertilizer NPK (20:20:0) is used in the rate of 1 bag (50kg) per acre and CAN for top dressing in the rate of 1bag (50kg) per acre. Organic manure improves the organic matter content of soil and soil structure. It is recommended at the rate of 100kg per acre.

Weed control
Weeds can seriously affect yields if not controlled and therefore 1^st weeding should be done 2-3 weeks after emergence and 2^nd weeding 2 weeks after the 1^st weeding. It can either be the normal manual weeding by use of hands or by use of herbicides.

Pests and diseases
Common pests are shoot fly, head bugs and birds. Control methods would be use of insecticides and using birds scaring devices and early uniform planting of the similar maturity group. Common diseases are Ergot-honey like exudates from the floret which leads to no grain formation and Grain smut-where the affected grains show black sacs. Control for these diseases is planting resistant varieties and use clean seeds dressed with thiram.

Harvesting and storage
Mature plants are cut close to the ground, tied into sheave then dried. Heads can also be cut with sickle and sun dried.  Combined harvester can also be used for harvesting. The dried heads or plants are threshed by beating then winnowing. Millet should be stored in bags and put in a dry place.