Pearl Millet in African Agriculture
1987
Spencer, D S C | Sivakumar, M V K
About one-third of the world's millet is grown in Africa, about 70% of which is grown in West Africa. Pearl millet is the major millet grown in Africa. Pearl millet is more important to the agricultural systems and economies of Africa than in other regions of the world. Pearl millet is used m2021ainly as a grain-like flour, a dough, and a porridge. Abiotic constraints to increased millet production include the low and erratic rainfall in a short growing season, sand storms, high intensity rains, high air and soil temperatures, poor soils with low levels of natural fertility, traditional management practices such as low crop densities, and no fertilization. Biotic constraints include the low genetic yield potential of local landraces, the effects of diseases such as downy mildew, the parasitic weed Striga, and grain-eating birds. Pearl millet is traditionally grown as an intercrop with a legume such as cowpea or groundnut for higher economic returns.
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This bibliographic record has been provided by International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics