1. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet After completing 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? Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet

2. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: 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 Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet

3. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet 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. Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet Making of roties (flat bread) with pearl millet dough

4. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet 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. Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet Pearl millet crop residue used as fodder

5. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet 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. Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet Pearl millet crop in desert type of environment

6. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet 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. Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet Pearl millet crop with low/no inputs

7. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet 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 Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet

8. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet 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. Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet

9. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet 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 verities/hybrids with improved tolerance to drought resistance to diseases and responding to higher rates of fertilizer applications. Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet

10. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet It is observed that of late 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 opportunity cost of women's time has encouraged the shift from pearl millet to readily available processed foods (milled rice, wheat flour, etc.,) that are far quicker and more convenient to prepare. Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet

11. Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Module 1: About Pearl Millet 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. Lesson 1: Importance of Pearl Millet However, there is hope to improve the farmers’ income from pearl millet cultivation.

12. 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 uses and nutritional value of pearl millet. Click “Lessons” button to select Lesson 2 Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Pearl Millet Production Practices Lessons Module 1: About Pearl Millet Modules