Four improved varieties of millet: higher yields and better profits for farmers

Millets have been a cornerstone of Indian agriculture, renowned for their resilience and rich nutritional profile. Millet grains are known to contain more nutrients compared to sorghum. Recent advancements in millet breeding have led to the development of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties, ensuring improved productivity and profitability for farmers.

Millet cultivation typically begins with the onset of the monsoon, around the second week of July. These newly developed millet varieties have been specifically tailored to suit various regions and farming conditions.

Key Features and Yields of Millet Varieties

Pearl Millet – MH 2417 (Pusa-1801)

MH 2417 (Pusa-1801) is an advanced variety of pearl millet developed by ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. This dual-purpose hybrid is ideal for kharif cultivation under both irrigated and rainfed conditions in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It delivers a high grain yield of 33.34 quintals per hectare and a dry fodder yield of 175 quintals per hectare. The variety is particularly rich in iron and zinc, and it is resistant to five major diseases affecting pearl millet: downy mildew, foliar blast, rust, smut, and ergot.

Finger Millet – VL Mandua-402

VL Mandua-402 is an open-pollinated variety developed by ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, Uttarakhand. This variety is well-suited for rainfed regions of Uttarakhand, with an average seed yield of 2,261 kg per hectare. It matures in 111 days and has a higher calcium content (368 mg/100g) compared to the check varieties VL Mandua 324 (294 mg/100g) and VL 376 (318.9 mg/100g).

Proso Millet – CPRMV-1 (DHPM-60-4/PMV 466)

CPRMV-1 is an open-pollinated variety of proso millet developed by ICAR-AICRP on Sorghum and Small Millets, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka. It is suitable for rainfed kharif cultivation in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This variety yields 24-26 quintals per hectare and matures within 70-74 days. It is resistant to brown spot, leaf blast, and leaf blight diseases.

Barnyard Millet – VL Madira-254

VL Madira-254 is an open-pollinated variety of barnyard millet developed by ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, Uttarakhand. This variety is well-suited for rainfed conditions in Uttarakhand, with an average yield of 1,719 kg per hectare. It matures in 101 days.