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Finger Millet (Ragi)KharifFinger millet variety (hills)Updated 28 August 2026

VL Mandua 379 (VL 379)

A newer VPKAS Almora hill finger-millet variety in the VL Mandua series, grown in Uttarakhand alongside VL 352 for improved yield on terrace fields.

SeasonKharif
Maturity periodAbout 100–110 days in the hills
Expected yieldAround 20–26 q/ha on hill fields under improved management
Suitable soilHill terrace soils, sandy loam to loam

Quick facts

Crop
Finger Millet (Ragi)
Type
Finger millet variety (hills)
Season
Kharif
Maturity period
About 100–110 days in the hills
Seed rate
About 8–10 kg/ha for line sowing on terrace fields
Expected yield
Around 20–26 q/ha on hill fields under improved management
Suitable soil
Hill terrace soils, sandy loam to loam
Release
Released by ICAR-VPKAS Almora in the VL Mandua series for the central Himalayan hills

About this variety

VL Mandua 379 is a hill finger-millet variety in the VL Mandua series from ICAR-VPKAS, Almora, grown in Uttarakhand and the neighbouring hills. Like the rest of the series it is bred for the short, cool hill season and rainfed terrace cultivation, and is grown alongside VL Mandua 352 as a more recent option aimed at improved grain yield.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeFinger millet variety (hills)
    MaturityAbout 100–110 days in the hills
    Yield potentialAround 20–26 q/ha on hill fields under improved management
    Disease resistanceModerate blast resistance; selected for hill adaptation
    SoilHill terrace soils, sandy loam to loam
    SeasonKharif

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeSown with the monsoon onset in the hills, roughly mid-June to early July
  • Seed rateAbout 8–10 kg/ha for line sowing on terrace fields
  • Spacing22–25 cm between rows, plants thinned within the row
  • Sowing methodLine sowing on hill terraces; transplanting where a nursery is raised
  • IrrigationRainfed on hill terraces
  • FertilizerFarmyard manure plus a modest 40:20:20 kg N:P2O5:K2O per hectare where fertiliser is used
  • HarvestingAbout 100–110 days in the hills; harvest before autumn cold, dry and thresh, and cut the straw as winter fodder

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Shallow, stony hill terrace soils on rainfed slopes
pH
5.0–7.0

Climate

Climate
Adapted to the cool, short hill growing season, maturing before the season closes at altitude

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

About 100–110 days in the hills

Expected yield

Around 20–26 q/ha on hill fields under improved management

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Treated seed and a healthy seedbed; farmyard manure before sowing on the shallow hill soils
  • Weed in the first month while the small plants are slow

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Adapted to the short, cool Himalayan hill season
  • Aimed at improved grain yield over older hill varieties
  • Grain plus valued winter fodder straw

Things to consider

  • A hill variety, not suited to the plains or the southern plateau
  • This record does not carry a verified release year for VL Mandua 379 — confirm the current hill recommendation with your KVK or VPKAS

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Uttarakhand
  • Himachal Pradesh

Frequently asked questions

How does VL Mandua 379 differ from VL Mandua 352?

Both are hill finger-millet varieties in the VL Mandua series from ICAR-VPKAS Almora for the central Himalayan region. VL Mandua 379 is the more recent of the two, aimed at improved grain yield; VL Mandua 352 is the longer-established hill benchmark. Both suit the short, cool hill season on rainfed terraces.

Is VL Mandua 379 suitable for the plains?

No. It is bred for the cool, short growing season of the Himalayan hills. In the plains or the southern plateau, use a variety recommended for that zone such as GPU 28, GPU 67 or ML 365.

Sourced from: ICAR-VPKAS Almora, ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research — finger millet varieties. editorial policy.