PRODUCTION OF RAGI (FINGER MILLET) IN KARNATAKA FARMERS NEED BETTER INCENTIVES

H. CHANDRASHEKAR¹*, K.B. VEDAMURTHY², R. RANGEGOWDA^3
1Former Professor of Statistics (Rtd), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, 560065, Karnataka, India
²Head, Department of Dairy Business Management, Dairy Science College, Hebbal, 560024, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, 585401, Karnataka, India
³Department of Dairy Business Management, Dairy Science College, Hebbal, 560024, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, 585401, Karnataka, India
* Corresponding Author : chandrashekar.ppmc@gmail.com

Received : 01-05-2022     Accepted : 27-05-2022     Published : 30-05-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 5       Pages : 11346 - 11351
Int J Agr Sci 14.5 (2022):11346-11351

Keywords : Trend analysis, Structural break in ragi, Cost of cultivating ragi-CostC2, Market Intervention
Academic Editor : Pushpendra Singh, Bikash Subba, Dr B. S. Vyakarnahal
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, 560065, Karnataka, India. Authors are also thankful to Department of Dairy Business Management, Dairy Science College, Hebbal, 560024, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, 585401, Karnataka, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Karnataka state has given importance to dry land development research since last five and half decades. Due to concerted efforts put forth by the State Agricultural Universities, they were able release cultivars especially in minor cereals like ragi, predominantly grown in dry land areas which are high yielding and drought resistant. Finger millet commonly known as ragi widely grown in Africa and Asia and is originally native to the Ethopian highlands. Ragi has been found in an Indian excavation which is dated at 1800 BC. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are the major states where it is grown under semi-arid conditions. State accounts for nearly 60 percent of total area under the crop. The improvement of yields in ragi crop has not enabled farmers to realize higher returns due to high cost of cultivation. There is has been a drastic decline in area under ragi crop as farmers are opting for better substitutes. Farmers need support in the form of input subsides, remunerative price to their produce besides putting in place efficient procurement operation. Such comprehensive policy measures are crucial to arrest declining trend observed in the area under ragi crop as ragi being the staple food crop of half of the population of the State

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