After successful completion of this Lesson, you have learned to answer: 1.Why pearl millet cultivation is important? 2.Why pearl millet yields are low.

After successful completion of this Lesson, you have learned to answer:

1. Why pearl millet cultivation is important?2. Why pearl millet yields are low where this

crop is important?3. Why area under pearl millet is declining?4. Is there a scope for pearl millet farmers to

increase their income and how?

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet

Course on Diseases of Pearl Millet

Module I: About Pearl Millet





Pearl millet is one of the most extensively cultivated cereals in the world, after rice, wheat, and sorghum, and particularly in arid to semi-arid regions.

Source:FAO 2005

World Area and Production of Major Grain Crops during 2005

Crop Area Production(Million ha) (Million MT)

Wheat 216 626Rice 154 615

Maize 147 692Barley 57 138

Sorghum 43 57Millet 27 154





Pearl Millet is a principal food cereal cultivated in drought prone semi-arid regions of Africa and Indian subcontinent.

In the USA, Australia, Southern Africa, and South America, pearl millet is grown most extensively as a forage crop.

In the USA, Australia and South America, pearl millet is grown mainly for animal feed.

Making of roties (flat bread) with pearl millet

dough





In addition to grain and forage uses, pearl millet crop residues and green plants also provide sources of animal feed, building material, and fuel for cooking, particularly in dry land areas.

Pearl millet crop residue used as

fodder





Pearl millet crop has a wide adaptability to local environments. Pearl millet is hardy and can grow in areas very hot and dry, and on soils too poor for sorghum.

Pearl millet is considered more efficient in utilization of soil moisture and has a higher level of heat tolerance than even sorghum and maize.

Pearl millet crop in desert type of environment





Pearl Millet is adapted to warm and dry climate but the greatest area of the crop is cultivated in drought-prone areas of the world.

In these areas, pearl millet is usually grown with limited inputs in conditions of sparse rainfall, low soil fertility, and face disease and pest problems, with correspondingly poor yields.

Pearl millet crop with low/no inputs





Average yields of pearl millet are lower than important grain crops (Table).

The lower average yields are primarily a result of the hot, dry conditions where pearl millet is mostly grown, rather than pearl millet plant’s capability.

Source:FAO 2004

Crop Average Yield (kg/ha)(World)

Maize 4859

Rice 3970

Wheat 2869

Barley 2720

Sorghum 1357

Millet 821





Pearl millet hybrids grown under better conditions yield 3000 to 4000 kg/ha compared to 300 to 800 kg/ha when moisture and soil fertility become limiting factors.





A majority of the subsistence farmers who typically cultivate this crop are unable to take advantage of high yield potential because they have limited options for improving their management practices.

Hence, pearl millet production can be achieved through growing varieties/hybrids with improved tolerance to drought, resistance to diseases and responding to higher rates of fertilizer applications.





It is observed that the food habits of pearl millet eating people are changing towards rice and wheat products.

Consumer preference for pearl millet has fallen due to irregular supplies, rising incomes and rapid urbanization.

Particularly in towns, the working women, with less time at home, have shifted from pearl millet to readily available processed foods (milled rice, wheat flour, etc.,) that are far quicker and more convenient to prepare.





In addition to pearl millet as a food crop, there are possibilities of other alternative uses of pearl millet such as novel foods, processed foods, and as feed for dairy animals and poultry.

Thus, commercialization of alternative food, feed, and industrial products is one of the ways to increase demand for pearl millet.

However, there is hope to improve the farmers’ income from pearl millet cultivation.

With this, the Lesson 1 on Importance of Pearl Millet in this Module concludes.

In the next Lesson in this Module, you will learn briefly about diseases of pearl millet.

Select Lesson 2 from Module I contents




After successful completion of this Lesson, you have learned to answer: 1.Why pearl millet cultivation is important? 2.Why pearl millet yields are low.

Documents

pearl millet pearl millet

pearl millet slide

pearl millet yields

pearl millet farmers

pearl millet cultivation

pearl millet dough slide

pearl millet crop residues

pearl millet plants