Crop details

Finger millet (wimbi)

Eleusine coracana

Family: Poaceae

Quick stats

Family	Poaceae
Typical harvest	2.0 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	5
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	110
Main uses	Grain for porridge, ugali, baby food, local drinks, and animal feed
Pollination	self
Origin / where it grows	Finger millet (wimbi) is grown in many parts of East Africa, especially in dry and hilly areas.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	20–30 °C
Rainfall	500–800 mm/yr
Altitude	900–2400 m
Best pH	5.5–7
Soil type	Well-drained loam or sandy loam; Finger millet (wimbi) tolerates light and moderately poor soils.
Row spacing	30 cm
Plant spacing	10 cm
Planting depth	2 cm
Seed rate	8 kg/ha
Nursery days	—

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 110 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for grain for porridge, ugali, baby food, local drinks, and animal feed.

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by self. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Finger millet (wimbi) is grown in many parts of East Africa, especially in dry and hilly areas.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 500 to 800 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2400 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 5.5 to 7. It does well in well-drained loam or sandy loam; finger millet (wimbi) tolerates light and moderately poor soils.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 30 centimetres apart, and leave about 10 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 2 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 8 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Prepare a fine seedbed. Drill or broadcast Finger millet (wimbi) seed at the start of the rains, then lightly cover with soil.

Transplanting: In some areas Finger millet (wimbi) is raised in a nursery and transplanted at 3–4 weeks. Use close spacing and water the seedlings after transplanting.

Irrigation: Keep soil moist at germination and early growth. Finger millet (wimbi) withstands dry periods better than maize but still needs some moisture at flowering and grain filling.

Fertigation: Where drip is available, apply small amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus regularly rather than one large dose.

Pest scouting: Walk the field weekly. Look for leaf spots, head worms, birds and lodging (falling plants). Act early before damage becomes severe.

Pruning: Keep weeds low especially in the first 4–6 weeks. Hand rogue very weak or diseased plants.

Harvest: Harvest when most heads of Finger millet (wimbi) turn brown and grains are hard when pressed between teeth.

Postharvest: Cut heads, dry on clean mats or tarpaulins, thresh when dry and store the grain in clean, dry bags or traditional granaries.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at planting	0	DAP 18-46-0 or NPK with phosphorus	50 kg/ha	N: 9, P₂O₅: 23, K₂O: 0	Place fertilizer close to the wimbi seed but not touching it.
2	Early topdress	21	CAN 26% N or urea	40 kg/ha	N: 10, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply around the plants when soil is moist, then lightly cover.
3	Late topdress (pre-heading)	35	Urea 46% N (if rainfall is reliable)	30 kg/ha	N: 14, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply before heads of Finger millet (wimbi) appear and when soil is moist.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	20	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	20	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	10	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	20	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	10	kg/ha
N	Topdress_late	10	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_late	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_late	10	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
P224	KE	110	Improved Finger millet (wimbi) variety, good grain yield and suitable for many areas.
U-15	UG	115	High-yielding, suitable for mid-altitude areas.
Local wimbi landrace	KE	120	Adapted to local conditions, preferred taste but lower yield than improved varieties.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	DAP 18-46-0	50	Provides phosphorus and some nitrogen for early Finger millet (wimbi) growth.
Topdress (early)	CAN 26% N	40	Apply when plants are 3–4 weeks old to support tillering.
Topdress (pre-heading)	Urea 46% N	30	Apply when rain is expected so that it dissolves into the soil.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Stem borers	pest	Small holes in leaves, dead hearts in young Finger millet (wimbi) plants, tunneling in stems.	Destroy crop residues after harvest and avoid continuous cereal cropping on the same land.
Head worms / ear caterpillars	pest	Feeding on heads and grains, webbing, shriveled grains.	Plant wimbi early and uniformly, and harvest promptly once heads mature.
Birds	pest	Grains eaten from the top of the head, scattered grains on the ground.	Use bird scaring, synchronized planting with neighbours and early-maturing varieties in bird-prone areas.
Blast disease	disease	Small grey or brown spots on leaves and neck; neck may break and heads may be empty.	Use tolerant Finger millet (wimbi) varieties, avoid very high nitrogen and practice crop rotation.
Leaf spots	disease	Brown or grey spots on leaves; heavy infection leads to early drying.	Use clean seed, avoid overcrowding and rotate with legumes or other non-cereals.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Smallholder rainfed (low input)	1	0.5	1.5	Local wimbi seed, little fertilizer, basic weeding.
Smallholder rainfed (improved management)	2	1.2	2.5	Improved Finger millet (wimbi) varieties, recommended fertilizer and good weed and pest control.
High input / irrigated	3	2.5	3.5	Good varieties, moisture control and well-planned nutrition.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	Highland and mid-altitude (long rains)	Mar–Apr	Aug–Sep
KE	Highland and mid-altitude (short rains)	Oct–Nov	Feb–Mar
UG	Highland wimbi-growing areas	Mar–Apr	Aug–Sep

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Central and eastern highlands	High
KE	Very dry lowlands	Low
KE	Western and Nyanza highlands	High
TZ	Northern and central highlands	Medium
UG	Highland and mid-altitude Finger millet (wimbi) zones	High