Eleusine coracana, or finger millet, also known as ragi in India, kodo in Nepal, is an annual herbaceous plant widely grown as a cereal crop in the arid and semiarid areas in Africa and Asia. It is a tetraploid and self-pollinating species probably evolved from its wild relative Eleusine africana.Finger millet is native to the Ethiopian and Ugandan highlands. Interesting crop characteristics of finger millet are the ability to withstand cultivation at altitudes over 2000 m above sea level, its high drought tolerance, and the long storage time of the grains.
In the Home
African finger millet is fairly disease-resistant and generally not prone to problems. In terms of care, this plant is fairly low maintenance. When grown outdoors it needs only light watering, and larger plants usually do not require pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be pruned after they have finished blooming. African finger millet is appropriate for anyone with an outdoor area, such as a garden or deck, and does not demand much gardening experience.
