Farmers cultivate white finger millet developed by Mandya scientists

MYSURU: The white finger millet variety developed by the scientists of the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V C Farm, Mandya is now preferred by the farmers as it has a huge demand from the bakery industry.
Scientists informed that it is more nutritious compared to the traditional varieties of the grain. It may be recalled that over 30 finger millet varieties have been developed by the researchers at the VC Farm so far.
“The variety in demand — KMR 340 — was released in 2018. It is now gaining popularity among finger millet growers. Last year, we sold over 100 quintals of seed,” explained SN Vasudeva Rao, research director, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V C Farm. “This variety was developed by the researchers led by CR Ravishankar,” he explained. “It is more nutritious compared to the traditional varieties of finger millet. It has huge demand from the bakery sector,” he added.
According to the authorities, this variety of finger millet is grown both in the irrigated land and in rainfed farming. The harvest period is 90 to 100 days. In irrigated land,40 to 45 quintals of finger millet yield is estimated per hectare of land while it is 30 to 35 quintals in the rainfed fields.
Currently, this variety is grown by several farmers in the Mandya.
According to the farmers, the white variety of finger millet is not new to the growers. “First, there were black finger millet varieties. Later red finger millet varieties were developed. The farmers have been growing the white finger millet varieties for the last 7-8 years by procuring the white finger millet variety seeds from private companies. The seeds are very expensive,” said Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Badagalapura Nagendra.