Production Determinants of the Pearl Millet Cropping System in Uganda and Implications to Productivity

G Lubadde,J Derera,J Sibiya,P Tongoona

doi:10.5539/jas.v8n7p97

Abstract

<p>Pearl millet is an important crop for people living in semi-arid areas in Uganda but not much is known about its production environment. A survey was conducted in eastern and northern regions of Uganda to characterise the pearl millet cropping system and to identify the most important production determinants. Using questionnaires, data was collected from 160 households through face-to-face interviews with the respondents. Results showed that pearl millet was mainly grown for food and source of income. The production environment was low input as farmers planted unimproved genotypes, used no artificial chemicals or manure, and had minimal access to financial credit and agricultural trainings or extension services. Planting was done in the second rains with no optimal use of important resources like family labour and seed due to seed broadcasting. Farmers desired genotypes with traits such as; stay green, being tall, high tillering, high yield, early maturity and being ergot resistant. The most important constraints were ergot and rust diseases susceptibility, low yield, low tillering, late maturity, sterile panicles, rodents, moulds/rotting and insect pests; while lack of market, low prices and price fluctuation were the important market constraints. Results further showed that farmers lacked knowledge about the common diseases like rust and ergot. The area planted, spouse age and years of pearl millet cultivation were the important factors enhancing production while age of household head, amount of seed planted and distance to the market negatively affected grain yield.</p>

Highlights

Pearl millet is the hardiest cereal (Reddy et al, 2012) and primary food for people in drought-prone areas of Africa (Ndjeunga & Nelson, 2005) and India (Roden et al, 2007)
Pearl millet is an important crop for people living in semi-arid areas in Uganda but not much is known about its production environment
This implies that knowledge of traits preferred by the pearl millet beneficiaries and establishing constraints is important for designing an effective breeding strategy

Summary

Introduction

Pearl millet is the hardiest cereal (Reddy et al, 2012) and primary food for people in drought-prone areas of Africa (Ndjeunga & Nelson, 2005) and India (Roden et al, 2007) It is the sixth most important cereal in terms of cultivated area (Khairwal et al, 2007a). The low adoption may partially be explained by the poor seed supply system, production constraints and failure to meet desirable cooking qualities (Ndjeunga & Nelson, 2005). This implies that knowledge of traits preferred by the pearl millet beneficiaries and establishing constraints is important for designing an effective breeding strategy. Through participatory surveys Brocke et al (2003) established farmers’ selection criteria of new pearl millet varieties based on adaptability and productivity while Weltzien et al (1998) showed that farmers were important in the evaluation of new pearl millet varieties before release. Paris et al (2008) showed that integration of gender issues in participatory research was important in varietal selection and dissemination while Camara et al (2006)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion