STUDIES IN PASPALUM SCROBICULATUM, L.
THE KODO MILLET
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Author:G. N. RANGASWAMI AYYANGAR AND V. PANDURANGA RAO
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:21, Issue:dec-dec
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.A04932
Abstract
The Kodo millet, Varagu (Tamil) and Arika (Telugu), occupies an
area of well over a million acres in the Madras Presidency. The grain
of this millet is easily preserved and proves a good famine reserve.
It is a poor man's food. The crop is very drought-resistant. Only
well-matured grains should be husked and used as food. Husks and
immature grains are poisonous. This millet is considered safer for
use as the grains get old. Both as food and fodder the crop is poor.
While the crop is ripening it is considered dangerous to graze animals
on it. This millet is grown mostly rain-fed, though in small areas
under irrigation also. Trichinopoly and South Arcot districts have
over 170,000 acres each; Kurnool, Nellore and Ramnad have each over
90,000 acres. The Nilgiris, Malabar and South Kanara are the only
districts in which this crop is not grown. About 21,000 acres are
raised under irrigation. Of these Coimbatore, Ramnad, Madura and
Kurnool have about 13 thousand acres. This millet yields on an aver-
age 800 lb. of grain per acre with a range of 400 to 1200 ib. according
to the tract. The yield of straw is about 1000 to 2000 lb. per acre.
The straw is used as a manure in alkaline lands. This millet has been
under study at the Millets Breeding Station and the following summa-
rise the knowledge so far gained.
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