Ragi, also known as finger millets, is a type of cereal obtained from the ragi plant Eleusine coracana. It is one of the most common and oldest variety of millet that is consumed in India and in Africa. Ragi flour is an important component of the whole grain diet that has gained much hype amongst the diet conscious generation of this day. It has been used for preparing porridge, bread and other baked goods. It can also be added into milkshakes and ice creams to make them more nutritious and healthy. In fact, it is a staple in some parts of India.

The credit for the health benefits derived from ragi is generally given to the contents present in it i.e.dietary fibre and polyphenol. But it has numerous other components that aid in maintaining good health. Ragi has a higher mineral content as compared to other millets or cereals. It is a perfect source of essential protein for vegetarians. Ragi contains the highest proportion of potassium and calcium; it is also a great source of iron which makes it significant for individuals who have low levels of haemoglobin. Additionally, ragi is gluten-free and has a low-fat content. So, it gets digested easily and is safe for gluten intolerant people. Ragi porridge is given to babies as their first food due to the qualities it possesses.

It is best to sort and wash ragi before use. Ragi is generally left to dry under the sunlight for approximately 5 to 8 hours before powdering it.

Basic Facts about Finger Millets/ragi:

• Botanical name: Eleusine coracana
• Family: Grass family
• Common Name: Ragi, Mandua in Hindi
• Sanskrit name: Nandimukhi, Madhuli
• Native Region: In India, Ragi is grown in various states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Karnataka and Tamilnadu are the primary Ragi growing states. Apart from India, Ragi is widely cultivated in the subtropical and tropical regions including Africa, Sri Lanka, China, Madagascar, Malaysia, and Japan.
• Interesting facts about Ragi:
  Ragi is a significant millet grown in some parts of Northern India and in the dry parts of South India.
  Ragi can be grown opposing low rainfall and severe drought.
  Drained alluvial, black or red; Ragi can grow in any of these soils.
  50 to 100 cm is the average rainfall required by Ragi to grow. The temperature that Ragi requires to grow is about 20 degree-Celsius to 30 degree-Celsius.

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