Farmers have continuously practiced need based location specific research on their farms to satisfy the diverse needs of their family. Guli method has been a best example for farmer’s wide knowledge in cultivation methods. Despite resorting to high yielding varieties and application of fertilizers and chemicals, the farmers get at the most 15 quintals of finger millet (ragi) grain yield per acre. But the farmers from around Haveri District, Karnataka, India, practice a unique method of cultivating ragi called as GULI VIDHANA – square planting. The experienced farmers from Haveri district have designed and developed simple steps that can be adopted by any one who desires to follow Guli Vidhana of ragi cultivation and can be adopted in any other place. By following this method they harvest around 18-20 quintals of ragi per acre. Guli Vidhana is simple and similar to SRI popularly known as Madagascar method of cultivation.

Even when High yielding varieties are sown and chemical fertilizers are applied to the crop, the yield is not more than 15 quintals per acre. But in guli method (square method of finger millet transplanting), just 1kg of local variety seeds are sown and the yield per acre was observed to be 18 to 20 quintals.

Comparison between Different Ragi cultivation methods

Conventional method Guli ragi method 10 kg /acre Ragi seeds require for sowing 1kg/acre Ragi seeds is enough Yield about 8 to 10 quintal/acre Yield about 18 to 20 quintals/acre 3/4 feet difference in the rows 1 1/2 feet difference between the rows Disease attack more Less attack of disease (Koorige) Seedril sowing Transplanting 5 cartload of grass for every acre 8 to 10 cartload of grass More usage of chemicals Use of organic manure only Tillering 4 to 6 and less no of ear heads 40 to 80 tillers and more no of ear heads Mono crop Horse gram can be grown No usage of koradu for leveling the land Usage of koradu (leveler) Good quality of seed selected for sowing

Tillering and earheads are more in Guli method due to its wider spacing of 11/2 feet from plant to plant with two saplings per hill. Koradu is used after a week wherein it helps to improve the size of and quality of the ear heads.