UNLOCKING MILLET PRODUCTION: A RAPID RURAL APPRAISAL (RRA) OF PROSPECTS AND CONSTRAINTS

P. JAISRIDHAR¹*, M. SURUDHI^2
1Directorate of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India
²Department Agriculture Extension, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India
* Corresponding Author : jaisridhar@tnau.ac.in

Received : 07-12-2022     Accepted : 28-12-2022     Published : 30-12-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 12       Pages : 12062 - 12065
Int J Agr Sci 14.12 (2022):12062-12065

Keywords : Millets, RRA, Constraints, Prospects, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai
Academic Editor : Dr R R Acharya, Andleeb R., Dr Sakamma S
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Directorate of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Among major millet producing states in India, Tamil Nadu’s contribution for sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet are high but low in minor millets like foxtail millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, proso millet and little millet. Therefore, it was felt to conduct a rapid rural appraisal on the needs and constraints of millet growers in Tiruvannamalai and Vellore District. The results revealed that, pests and diseases in finger millet, persistent drought, exhausted soils, shortage of labour for harvesting and weeding, and high weed infestation were found to be major constraints. Among prospects, it was found that, technologies that are labour saving, particularly during weeding and harvesting, and development of farmer friendly soil improvement package for millet are urgently needed to prosper millet production in the state