Description

Black Little Millet Seeds – கருப்பு சாமை (Karuppu Samai)

Black Little Millet, botanically Panicum sumatrense Roth, is a traditional dark-grained form of little millet conserved as part of India’s rich millet biodiversity. Known in Tamil as கருப்பு சாமை (Karuppu Samai), it is suitable for natural farms, rain-fed cultivation, seed multiplication and community seed conservation.

The seeds naturally show dark brown to dark grey coloration. Traditional dark Samai populations have been documented in South India, including forms referred to as Karunsamai/Karumsamai. As native farmer-maintained populations can vary, Rangamalai Organic Farms Community Seed Bank conserves this accession as Black Little Millet / Karuppu Samai without assigning an unverified cultivar identity.

Seed requirement: For normal line sowing, approximately 4–5 kg of seed per acre is a practical requirement. TNAU recommends 10 kg/ha for line planting, equivalent to about 4 kg/acre, and 12.5 kg/ha for seed-drill sowing, equivalent to about 5 kg/acre. TNAU’s dryland recommendation for little millet CO 4 is also 5 kg/acre.

For traditional broadcasting, uneven fields, or situations where establishment may be lower, farmers may use a somewhat higher seed quantity. The exact requirement can vary with germination percentage, sowing method, soil moisture and desired plant population.

Botanical Name: Panicum sumatrense Roth
Tamil Name: கருப்பு சாமை – Karuppu Samai
Crop: Little Millet / Samai
Seed Type: Traditional farmer landrace / open-pollinated population
Recommended Seed Requirement: 4–5 kg per acre for line/drill sowing
Suitable For: Cultivation, seed multiplication, biodiversity conservation and seed saving

Rangamalai Organic Farms Community Seed Bank encourages growers to multiply and conserve native seeds rather than repeatedly purchasing them.

Buy once. Grow it. Save it. Share it. Build your own seed bank.

Rangamalai Organic Farms Community Seed Bank
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