Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn): Production, Management and Utilization Status in Geo-political Northern Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The cultivation of finger millet in geo-political northern Plateau State is undertaken manually (89%) on any kind of soil (46.9%) by small holder farm families with low income (<$1.00/day), who operate at subsistence level on land area between 0.5-3 hectares. Finger millet production is constraint in the study area by non-governmental support in terms of making available improved seeds and seedlings, poor knowledge of agronomic practices such as seeding depth, plant spacing and transplanting period, pests/disease attack and prevalence of stubborn weeds such as Eleusine indica which resembles the finger millet (Elensine coracana L. Gaertn) plant. The adoption of new technologies which improved finger millet production in the study area was enhanced by farmers who had secondary education (63.45%) and many years (≥6 years) of finger millet farming experience. Finger millet which stores for over 10 years was found to have many uses and was utilized for many purposes, ranging from food and fodder, medicinal to industrial uses as well as high commercial value (N200.00/mudu); thus, it has high potential of contributing to food security and household income of the farm families in the study area.