Finger Millet [Eleusinecoracana (L) Gaertn] Breeding in Ethiopia: A Review Article

Abstract

Finger millet (ElucinecoracanaL. Gaertn), belongs to the Poaceae family, is one of the important food cereal crops in the Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia region. It is the third most broadly produced millets after pearl millet (Pennisetumglaucum) and foxtail millet (Setariaitalica) in the semi-arid tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Asfawet al., 2011). In Ethiopia, it is the sixth important cultivated cereal crops after tef, wheat, maize, sorghum and barley (Amare et al., 2019). It is frequently mixed with other cereal crops such as sorghum or tef to prepare composite flour for local food such as injera and porridge (Amare et al., 2019). It contains relatively higher concentration of calcium and dietary fiber than other cereal crops (Wondimu and Tekabe, 2001).