Emerging research priorities in pearl millet

Abstract

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is grown on more than 27 million ha in some of the most marginal environments of Africa (17 million ha) and Asia (10 million ha) with India having the largest area (9 million ha). Based on the rainfall patterns and the latitude, pearl millet area in India is divided into three agroclimatic zones: the arid zone (A1 zone) in northwestern India, which includes parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana, receiving <400 mm of the annual rainfall; the A zone, which includes the remainder of northern and western India; and B zone in peninsular India, receiving >400 mm annual rainfall (Yadav et al. 2011). Farmers in these three zones have varied plant and grain trait preferences, which change over time in response to changes in the farming systems, consumer needs and environmental factors. This calls for periodic reprioritization of plant and grain traits