FINGER MILLET

Finger millet, originating in Africa, has been cultivated for many thousands of years in Uganda and Ethiopia. It was likely introduced to India around 4000 years ago, with evidence of its presence found in archeological excavations of the Harappan Civilization.

Belonging to the grass family Poaceae, finger millet is a seeded annual cereal. A mature plant typically reaches a height of 30-150 cm. It is a short-day plant, with most varieties requiring about 12 hours of daylight for optimal growth. The crop can tolerate a certain extent of soil salinity.

Nutritionally, 100 grams of finger millet provides 1,283 kJ (307 kcal) of energy and contains

53.5 grams of carbohydrates, 22.6 grams of dietary fibre, 1.9 grams of fat, and 7.4 grams of protein. It is also rich in minerals, including 210 mg of phosphorus, 3.19 mg of manganese, 443 mg of potassium, 2.53 mg of zinc, 364 mg of calcium, 4.62 mg of iron, and 146 mg of magnesium