Millet (Bajra)

1. Land Preparation Bajra is the crop for land too dry and sandy for anything else. One or two ploughings and a planking are enough. Do not over-prepare sandy soil — it blows away and buries the seed too deep. 2.

Kharif Sowing Jul–Aug Harvest Dec–Jan 15–25 maund per acre

Land Preparation

Bajra is the crop for land too dry and sandy for anything else. One or two ploughings and a planking are enough. Do not over-prepare sandy soil — it blows away and buries the seed too deep.

Sowing Time & Method

Sow with the monsoon, July to mid-August in Thal and Cholistan. In Sindh's dry belt sowing can start late June. Rows 18–24 inches apart, seed no deeper than one inch — bajra seed is small and will not emerge from depth.

Seed Rate & Treatment

3–4 kg per acre for grain, 8–10 kg for fodder. Hybrid seed gives a much better return than farm-saved seed on the same rainfall.

Fertilizer

Half a bag DAP and half a bag urea per acre is realistic on rainfed land. Applying more than the rain can support wastes money — the crop cannot use nitrogen it has no water to take up.

Irrigation

Normally entirely rainfed. If one irrigation is possible, give it at earhead emergence, which is when a dry spell costs the most grain.

Weed Control

Weed Damage Control Product
Horse Purslane (Itsit) Covers the sandy ground before bajra gets away and takes the little moisture a rainfed field holds. Hoeing at three weeks
Crowfoot Grass (Madhana) Its fine roots take the surface moisture in the first three weeks, so on sandy soil the young plants stay small. Hoeing at three weeks
Cholai (Tandla) Overtops the young crop and shades it before bajra can close the rows on its own. Rogue out before it seeds
Purple Nutsedge (Deela) Takes nitrogen from the top soil in the weeks the crop is putting out its tillers. Hand weeding, lifting the tubers out with the plant — it comes again from any tuber left behind
Puncture Vine (Bhakra) Smothers the low rows and takes moisture and nitrogen right up to earhead, so the heads come small. Hand weeding before the burrs harden

Bajra grows fast and shades weeds out on its own once established. One hoeing at three weeks is usually all that is needed.

Insect Pests

Shoot fly on seedlings and blister beetle on the earhead at flowering. Birds take a serious share of the grain near villages — netting or scaring is often worth more than any spray.

Diseases

Downy mildew, seen as white growth on the leaf underside and twisted, leafy earheads. Use treated seed and remove affected plants as soon as you see them.

Harvesting

Cut earheads when the grain hardens, dry in the sun, then thresh. Bajra grain does not store as well as wheat — keep it dry and use it within the season.