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away and 2-3 cm deeper from the line of sowing. disease incidences help farmers track patterns and
Remaining half of the nitrogen may be applied at make informed decisions about control measures.
tillering stage of millets. Participating in farmer field schools or seeking
guidance from agricultural extension services can
Millet is generally drought-tolerant, but optimal provide valuable knowledge and resources for
water management is still essential to maximize effective pest and disease management.
productivity. Timely irrigation during critical growth
stages, such as flowering and grain filling, is Post-Harvest Practices:
vital for ensuring proper pollination and grain
development. Post-harvest management is essential for
preserving the quality and market value of millet.
Implementing conservation measures like Farmers should harvest millet when the grains
mulching and ridge-furrow systems can minimize are fully mature and dry. Threshing can be done
water evaporation and runoff, thereby conserving manually by beating the dried millet stalks or with
soil moisture. Mulching involves covering the soil mechanical threshers to separate the grains from
surface with organic materials, such as straw the stalks.
or crop residues, which reduce evaporation,
suppress weed growth, and improve soil moisture Drying the harvested millet to reduce moisture
retention. Ridge-furrow systems create raised content is crucial to prevent mould growth and
beds with furrows in between, allowing efficient insect infestation during storage. Proper storage
water distribution and root access to moisture. in clean, airtight containers or bags can protect
the grains from pests and environmental factors.
Pest and Disease Management: Farmers should inspect the stored millet regularly
for signs of moisture, pests, or mould. Fumigation
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies with natural insecticides like neem leaves or
are crucial for mitigating the impact of pests and storing millet with insect-repellent substances such
diseases on millet crops. Regular scouting and as dried chilli peppers can further deter pests.
monitoring of fields enable early detection of pests
and diseases. Farmers should employ cultural Conclusion:
practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and
maintaining proper plant spacing to deter pests. Improving millet production technology is essential
for the farmer community to enhance yields,
Natural predators and biocontrol agents, including income, and food security. By implementing
predatory insects and beneficial microorganisms, advanced practices such as proper land
can help control pests effectively while minimizing preparation, appropriate planting techniques,
the use of synthetic pesticides. Introducing efficient nutrient and water management,
beneficial insects like ladybugs or lacewings can integrated pest and disease control, and post-
control aphids and other soft-bodied pests. Traps, harvest management, farmers can optimize
pheromone-based lures, and physical barriers, millet production. Governments, agricultural
such as nets or screens, can also play a role in extension services, and research institutions
pest management. should collaborate to provide training, access to
high-quality seeds, and technological support to
To manage diseases, farmers should adopt farmers. Through the adoption of sustainable millet
disease-resistant millet varieties. Planting diverse production techniques, the farmer community can
millet cultivars can reduce the risk of widespread contribute to a more climate resilient agricultural
disease outbreaks. Applying organic fungicides system, improved livelihoods, and a healthier
or biocontrol agents can provide additional future for all.
protection. Proper sanitation practices, such as
removing and destroying infected plant material, Ardith Sankar & Sabuj Ganguly , Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
1*
2
are crucial for preventing the spread of diseases. Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI), Morabadi, Ranchi,
Jharkhand-834008
Regular monitoring and recording of pest and 2 School of Smart Agriculture (SOSA), Adamas University, Kolkata,
West Bengal-700126 *Email: ardithsankar777@gmail.com