Millet Production Research Articles

High Yielding Pest and Disease Tolerance Variety (DHLM-14-1) in Little Millet (Panicum sumetrense. L) Developed through Recombinant Breeding Technology

The little millet variety DHLM-14-1 developed at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) Hanumanamatti under the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. With a maturation period of 85-90 days, this variety features an erect, tall plant stature ranging from 112 to 130 cm and produces bold, oval-shaped gray grains. DHLM-14-1 stands out for its notable tolerance to shoot fly, exhibiting only a 13.89% incidence compared to 19.15% in the national check JK-8. Its impressive yield performance is evident, yielding 18.42%, 30.58%, and 3.14% more than the national checks OLM-203, JK-8, and KOPLM-53, respectively, making it a beneficial option for millet producers looking for resilient, high-yielding crops. Across trials conducted from 2011 to 2014, DHLM-14-1 showcased exceptional agronomic performance, achieving a mean seed yield of 42.41q/ha, significantly outperforming local check TNAU-63 and national check OLM-203 by 26.63% and 23.75%, respectively. Its consistent yield superiority, with an average of 15.89 q/ha over three years, illustrates the cultivar's adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions, surpassing OLM-203 and JK-8 by 18.42% and 30.58%. Recognized during the 29th Annual Group Meeting of the ICAR All India Coordinated Research Project on small millets, DHLM-14-1 has shown strong disease resistance against grain smut, brown spot, and sheath blight, with disease incidences similar to OLM-203 and significantly lower than JK-8. Additionally, its effective resistance to shoot fly underscores its potential to reduce pest damage, reinforcing DHLM-14-1's value as a high-yielding, resilient cultivar that not only enhances sustainable millet production but also supports food security and improves farmer livelihoods across India.

Breeding for Pest and Disease Tolerance High Yielding Variety (DHLM-36-3-1) in Little Millet (Panicum sumetrense. L)

Developed from 2008 to 2013 and evaluated between 2010 and 2014, the high-yielding medium-maturing little millet variety DHLM-36-3-1 was officially released and notified in 2018, showing its potential as an excellent variety. This cultivar, developed at the Agricultural Research Station in Hanumanamatti, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, is well-suited to the state of Karnataka. It matures in 85 to 90 days and features an erect growth habit, reaching heights of 112 to 130 cm, with bold, oval-shaped grains of light black color. DHLM-36-3-1 demonstrated a grain yield of 14.29 q/ha and a fodder yield of 5.6 t/ha, showing good tolerance to shoot fly infestation (15.50%) compared with the national check JK-8, which recorded a 20.34% infestation rate. Furthermore, DHLM-36-3-1 outperformed both national checks OLM-203 and JK-8 by 9.59% and 11.21%, respectively, in terms of grain yield. Similarly, the newly developed variety DHLM-14-1 has yielded promising results across various trials conducted throughout India, demonstrating its potential as a high-yielding and nutritionally rich option for farmers. Over three growing seasons, DHLM-14-1 achieved an impressive average seed yield of 35.12 q/ha, exceeding the local check TNAU-63 by 18.56% and the national check OLM-203 by 12.06%. It has consistently performed well in All India Coordinated Trials, showing adaptability across diverse agro-climatic conditions, with notable yield improvements in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu. Nutritional assessments highlight DHLM-14-1's superior mineral profile, boasting higher levels of zinc (4.06 mg/100 g) and calcium (3.45 mg/100 g) compared to national checks, while its iron content (16.2 mg/100 g) significantly surpasses that of OLM-203. Additionally, disease resistance evaluations revealed that DHLM-14-1 maintained lower incidence rates for grain smut and brown spots, with competitive resistance to shoot fly. Collectively, these findings emphasize DHLM-14-1's vital role in promoting sustainable millet production, enhancing food security and farmer livelihoods, supporting integrated pest management strategies, and improving the nutritional quality of staple diets in areas with micronutrient deficiencies.

Effect of Compound Fertilizer on Foxtail Millet Productivity and Soil Environment

The effects of balanced fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) on foxtail millet productivity and the soil environment under the same conditions of total nutrients have received limited research attention. Therefore, in this study, three balanced fertilization patterns of 27-14-10 (T1), 27-17-7 (T2), and 30-10-11 (T3), and one no fertilization treatment (CK), a total of four treatments, were set up through a two-year field experiment to study the effects of balanced fertilization patterns on foxtail millet yield and soil environment. Mantel analysis was conducted to reveal the correlation between soil environmental factors and the community and their contribution to productivity. The results showed that: (1) all balanced fertilization treatments significantly increased foxtail millet yield, with the highest yield in the T1 treatment. (2) The contents of EC, available K, available P, and alkaline-hydrolyzable nitrogen in the soil of the two-year TI treatments were higher than those of the other treatments and increased by 7.20–9.36%, 24.87–52.35%, 55.83–56.38%, and 21.05–43.95%, respectively, compared with CK. (3) Soil urease activity in the T1 treatment increased significantly by 26.67% and 9.00% compared with the control over the two years. Sucrase activity increased by 36.27% and 23.88% in the T1 treatment compared to CK, and glutaminase activity increased by 33.33% and 19.23% in the T1 treatment compared to CK. (4) T1 treatment significantly increased the OUT number and diversity index of the soil bacterial community. (5) Mantel analysis and principal component analysis showed that available soil nutrients and soil enzymes were positively correlated, and soil enzymes and soil nutrients contributed more to foxtail millet productivity. In this study, the 27-14-10 balanced fertilization pattern was more effective, providing a theoretical basis for the research and development of special fertilizers for foxtail millet and offering technical guidance for realizing the light simplified cultivation of foxtail millet and sustainable development of cost–saving and increased efficiency.

Optimization of Nano-DAP Fertilization for Improvement in Growth and Yield of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.)

Aim: Optimization of nano-DAP fertilization for improvement in growth, yield and to maximize the production of finger millet. Study Design: Randomized Block Design (RBD). Place and Duration of Study: This investigation was conducted in Kharif 2021 and 2022, with variety VL-352 at the Research and Extension Centre, Gaja, College of Forestry, Ranichauri (Tehri Garhwal), Uttarakhand, India. Methodology: This experiment comprised of ten treatments viz., T1- NK 100% (Control), T2- NPK 100%, T3- 75%P + 100%N + 100%K, T4- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K, T5- 75%P + 100%N + 100%K + Seed Treatment (ST) + Foliar Spray (FS) (2mL), T6- 75%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS(4mL), T7- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS(2mL), T8- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS (4mL), T9- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS(2mL) + FS(2mL), T10- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS (4mL) + FS(4mL) and was laid out in RBD with three replications. Measurements and calculations of plant growth parameters, yield attributes, and economic considerations were made. Result: The plant growth and yield attributing parameters were recorded significantly higher in the treatment T10- 50%P +100%N + 100%K + ST + FS (4mL) + FS(4mL) while significantly lower yield was recorded in T1- NK 100% (Control). Conclusion: The use of 50% P through DAP and 100% NK along with seed treatment by nano DAP @5mL/kg seed as well as two foliar sprays of nano-DAP @4 mL/L of water, first at 30-35 days after germination and second at 45 days after seed germination gave significantly higher plant growth, seed yield and seed quality of finger millet.

The Millet Scenario in India during the Last Three Decades

The nutrient rich millet crops are cultivated in marginal and poor soil as rainfed crop in India.Millets are rich in proteins, and minerals like Zinc, Iron and Phytochemicals, because of it rich nutrient status it’s called as Nutri-cereals. The market demand on millets in increasing day by day. So, this study focussed on the growth performance and instability in area, production and productivity. This study considered the period from 1990 to 2021. The secondary data like area, production and productivity were collected from various publications like APEDA, Agriculture StatisticsHandbook and India Stat. Over the entire period the area, production and productivity showed a decreasing trend. The estimated CDVI (Cuddy-Della Valle Index) value revealed that the production of millets had high instability while the area had the lowest instability. Hence the government should create awareness among the farmers and consumers.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DERIVED PRECIPITATION INDICES AND MILLET YIELD IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the relationship between derived precipitation indices and millet in Kano State, Nigeria. Data on monthly rainfall (mm) and millet yield (kg/ha) from 1992-2022 were used for the study. The rainfall data was sourced from NiMet and IITA while the crop yield data was sourced from KNARDA. The data obtained were subjected to correlation analysis in SPSS environment version 20. The result obtained revealed that a relationship exists between precipitation indices and millet at the onset of rainfall (r=0.421, p=0.018) at the significant level of 1% and negative (r=0.059, p=0.753) at the Cessation period. Also, the study revealed that there were low and negative relations between the rainfall data and millet production in May (r= -0.057, p= 0.760) and June (r=0.193) at a 0.05 significant level. In July (r=0.233), and August a very low and positive relationship was observed between rainfall and millet yield (r=0.156, p=0.401). The result of the study further revealed that a very low and positive relationship was observed between A.G.S.R and Millet yield (r=0.298) and between Millet production with LRS (r=0.194, p=0.296). A markedly and negligible negative relationship was observed between SI and millet yield (r=0.010) at a 0.05 significant level. The study concluded that variation occurred in millet production in Kano state between the onset and cessation period of rainfall received. Based on the findings, the study recommends that medium-maturing varieties of millet should be introduced to minimize the effect of precipitation indices.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MILLET PRODUCTION IN JERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA.

This research was carried out to determine the profitability of millet production in Jere local Government area of Borno state. Random sampling technique was adopted in this research through which data was collected from ninety (90) farms with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and production functions. Result indicated that 58.9% of respondents were in their economically active age group, majority (76.7%) of the farmers were male, 66.7% were married, while 42.2% had farming experience of between 21 – 30 years in millet production and it was revealed that farms were on a small-scale basis. Result further showed that millet production was profitable with gross margin and net farm income of N29,743.18 and N12,868.00 per hectare respectively. Regression model estimated revealed that double-log was the lead equation with R2 of 68.5%. Also, land, labour and agrochemical had significant impact on the level of millet output at P<0.01 level of probability and F-ratio 35.212. Estimated efficiency ratios showed that land; labour and fertilizer were under-utilised, while agrochemical was over utilised. Return to scale gave a value of 1.27 which implies that millet production was in stage 1 of the production region. It can be concluded that millet production in the study area is profitably. The study recommends that farmers should employ more land; labour and fertilizer, while the use of agrochemical should be cut down in order to improved millet production output for profit maximization.

On-Farm Grain Yield Stability and Farmer Perceptions on Pre-release Pearl Millet Lines in Zimbabwe

Farmer participation in on-farm research does not only accelerate information gathering but also results in adoption of new research products. Here, we report on-farm trials conducted across five districts of Matabeleland province in Zimbabwe to explicate grain yield stability and farmer perceptions on eight pre-release pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) lines. The results indicated that genotypic effects on grain yield were significant in both individual and across-site analysis of variance and that farmers prioritize earliness and grain yield as must-have traits in millet varieties. The five districts were grouped into two distinct environments, with four districts (i.e., Bulilima, Gwanda, Matopos and Tsholotsho) in one group (i.e., DGrp1) and Mangwe district forming the second group (DGrp2). Pearl millet pre-release lines PM1 (1.425 kg ha-1), PM9 (1.043 kg ha-1) and PM6 (761.8 kg ha-1) showed high yield, stability and were the most preferred by farmers. In conclusion, on-farm trials may offer the quickest possible solution to boost low-pearl millet production resulting from the continuous use of unproductive landraces and old varieties by farmers.

Effect of nitrogen levels and foliar application of nano-urea on productivity of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. emend Stuntz

Effect of nitrogen levels and foliar application of nano-urea on productivity of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. emend Stuntz

Influence of organic amendments and PPFM on enhancing the productivity of foxtail millet Setaria italica L. under rainfed condition

Influence of organic amendments and PPFM on enhancing the productivity of foxtail millet Setaria italica L. under rainfed condition

Profile of finger millet growers and their perceived prospects: Production, processing, and marketing of finger millet and value-added products

Profile of finger millet growers and their perceived prospects: Production, processing, and marketing of finger millet and value-added products

Drought Adaptation Strategies Among Smallholder Cereal Farmers In Makueni County, Kenya

Increasing frequency and severity of drought increase vulnerability of smallholder cereal farmers globally. Arid and Semi-Arid Lands cover 80% of Kenya and location around the equator are major factors in drought development in the country. Frequent droughts result in fluctuations in cereal yields hence food insecurity in Makueni County. This study evaluated community-based and indigenous knowledge drought adaptations practiced by smallholder cereal farmers in Makueni County, Kenya. This study adopted explanatory sequential mixed methods research design. Household surveys (N=225) and key informant interviews (N=16) were used. Descriptive techniques were used in data analysis. The study found that frequent droughts in Makueni County resulted in adoption of small farm sizes for production of maize, sorghum and finger millet. Majority of the farmers produced between 1 and 10 bags of cereals. Majority (50.2%) of the smallholder cereal farmers who adopted community-based adaptations and indigenous knowledge-based drought adaptations strategies recorded an in increase in cereal yields in Makueni County. Early planting (66.7%), timely weeding (61.4%), manure application (57.0%), improving land tillage (56.1%), seed spacing (55.3%) and planting droughtresilient seeds (44.7%) led to the high annual cereal yields ranging between 1 and 10 bags in Makueni County. The drought adaptation strategies are commendable for upscaling in agro-ecological zones with similar climatic conditions in order to improve food production in the country. Information and data generated by this study is expected to result in improvement in drought adaptation policy formulation and adaptive capacity of smallholder cereal farmers hence, improvement in food production and security.

Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum): A Climate Resilient and Nutritionally Significant Crop for Global Food Security

The environmental balance needed for agriculture is severely strained due to changes in rainfall patterns and climate change, as well as the growing global need for food. As global temperatures rise and precipitation patterns become more erratic, millets offer an efficient solution to the trade-off between food security and water availability. Millets are rich in nutrients and possess a special ability to endure extreme conditions such as heat, drought, and various other abiotic and biotic stresses. Pearl millet is a highly climate-resilient crop capable of mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. Antioxidant gene expression, presence of a waxy outer layer and heat shock proteins/chaperons contribute to its abiotic stress tolerance. By adjusting its flowering phenology and establishing fast-growing roots, pearl millet enhances its water and nutrient use efficiency. Stable sources of germplasm in pearl millet that exhibit resistance to diseases such as downy mildew, blast, rust, smut, and ergot have also been incorporated into disease resistance breeding programs. Pearl millet plays a crucial role in nourishing the poverty-stricken populations due to its high palatability and rich nutritional profile. Various bioactive compounds pertain to hypoglycemic, anticancerous and probiotic properties that contribute to its health benefits. Biofortification in pearl millet offers a solution to address issues of micronutrient deficiency in vulnerable populations. Continued research and investment in pearl millet production not only bolster food security but also contribute to the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of increasingly unpredictable environmental conditions. Thus, embracing pearl millet represents a forward-thinking approach to ensuring food security and promoting nutritional diversity on a global scale.

Assessing the impact of the indigenous farmers' food literacy on millet production: evidence from Eastern India

Assessing the impact of the indigenous farmers' food literacy on millet production: evidence from Eastern India

Market Dynamics and Consumer Insights for Value-added Pearl Millet Products: Empirical Evidence from Rajasthan, India

The study provides an overview of the study on consumer preference and consumption patterns of value-added pearl millet products in Rajasthan. The research focused on identifying consumer preferences, understanding consumption patterns, and evaluating buying behavior based on individual preferences. The study includes various value-added pearl millet products such as cookies, cakes, bakery items, different varieties of batters, ready-to-eat items like khakhra, dhokla, puffs, and liquid items like lassi. Analysis was done using chi-square and weighted average method. Major findings from the study were that educated consumers showed a higher preference for pearl millet products. The largest consumer group had a monthly income of less than ₹10,000. Pearl millet cookies, cakes, and other bakery items were the most preferred products. The preferred channel for purchasing value-added pearl millet products was retail/grocery stores. Also, the most influential factor in consumer purchasing decisions was nutritional value. Factors such as price, flavor, packaging, and color had a relatively lower impact. This study offers guidance on consumers way of demand to businesses involved in the processed millet product industry.

Understanding the Impact: Insect Pests of Millets and their Consequences on Yield Loss

Millets, crucial cereal crops in many regions, face significant threats from various insect pests, leading to substantial yield losses. Insect pests such as stem borers, leaf folders, aphids, midges, bugs, caterpillars, and termites inflict damage at different growth stages of millet plants. Stem borers like Chilo partellus and Sesamia inferens bore into stems, impairing structural integrity, while leaf folders such as Cnaphalocrocis medinalis create folded leaf shelters for feeding, causing extensive tissue damage. Aphids such as Rhopalosiphum maidis and shoot bugs like Peregrinus maidis extract sap, resulting in wilting and stunting of plants. Millet midges like Geromyia penniseti and Stenodiplosis sorghicola target reproductive structures, leading to grain abortion and reduced yield. Earhead pests like Cryptoblabes gnidiella and Helicoverpa armigera feed on developing grains, causing significant losses in quality and quantity. Additionally, termites like Odontotermes spp. and Microtermes spp. damage roots and stems, disrupting nutrient and water uptake causing plant death. Understanding the biology and ecology and implementing appropriate pest management strategies are crucial for mitigating yield losses and ensuring millet production sustainability.

Finger Millet (<i>Eleusine Coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) Production Status, Challenges, and Seed Source in Ethiopia; A Review

Similar to other cereal crops finger millet is being produced in a large volume in Ethiopia, as they are the principal staple food crop. Finger millet is considered as underutilized cereal crop which is commonly grown in the northern, west-northern, and western parts of the country and it is considered as a crop which is important to overcome malnutrition. Regions including Tigray, Amhara, Oromiya, Benishangul-Gumuz, Southern Nation and Nationalities Peoples (SNNP) and Gambela are considered as the potential regions for the production of finger millet in Ethiopia. Relatively, it is considered as drought tolerant as compared to other major cereals such as rice, wheat, and barley. In addition to this finger millet is considered as a highly resilient crop which can grow in different weather conditions, including drought, floods, and marginal soils. In Ethiopia it is commonly grown for the preparation of local foods like ‘injera’ and porridge and local drink such as ‘areki’ or ‘tella’. About 26 varieties of finger millet are cultivated in main season in the country. In Ethiopia, there are a limited source of cereal crop seeds which includes, farmer’s own saved seeds and government seed distributing companies. In this review the status of production, seed source and nutritional importance of finger millet in Ethiopia is presented.

El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions simultaneously reduce the production of multiple cereals across India

Abstract Natural climate phenomena like El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) influence the Indian monsoon and thereby the region’s agricultural systems. Understanding their influence can provide seasonal predictability of agricultural production metrics to inform decision-making and mitigate potential food security challenges. Here, we analyze the effects of ENSO and IOD on four agricultural production metrics (production, harvested area, irrigated area, and yields) for rice, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet across India from 1968 to 2015. El Niños and positive-IODs are associated with simultaneous reductions in the production and yields of multiple crops. Impacts vary considerably by crop and geography. Maize and pearl millet experience large declines in both production and yields when compared to other grains in districts located in the northwest and southern peninsular regions. Associated with warmer and drier conditions during El Niño, >70% of all crop districts experience lower production and yields. Impacts of positive-IODs exhibit relatively more spatial variability. La Niña and negative-IODs are associated with simultaneous increases in all production metrics across the crops, particularly benefiting traditional grains. Variations in impacts of ENSO and IOD on different cereals depend on where they are grown and differences in their sensitivity to climate conditions. We compare production metrics for each crop relative to rice in overlapping rainfed districts to isolate the influence of climate conditions. Maize production and yields experience larger reductions relative to rice, while pearl millet production and yields also experience reductions relative to rice during El Niños and positive-IODs. However, sorghum experiences enhanced production and harvested areas, and finger millet experiences enhanced production and yields. These findings suggest that transitioning from maize and rice to these traditional cereals could lower interannual production variability associated with natural climate variations.

Strategies for enhancing productivity, resilience, nutritional quality, and consumption of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] for food and nutritional security in India

AbstractPearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important component of agri‐food system in areas experiencing drought and high temperature and for increasing the resilience to climatic stresses and addressing malnutrition. The purpose of this review is to examine strategies for improving productivity, stress resilience, and nutritional quality of pearl millet and to understand its consumption pattern. Genetic diversification of hybrid parental lines remains strategically important to breed diverse, disease‐resistant and drought‐tolerant hybrids. Resistance to diseases, tolerance to drought, and high temperature and greater contents of iron and zinc are targeted in improving hybrid parental lines. Lodging resistance, compact panicles, panicle exertion, and improved seed set are universal traits, whereas duration, tillering ability, seed color, and seed size have a strong regional preference. The strategy of developing high‐yielding and disease‐resistant hybrids with adaptation to challenged agro‐ecologies has led to increase in yield from 303 to 1219 kg/ha between 1960 and 2020. Yield and stress resilience are to be increased further using conventional breeding and new tools like genomic selection, speed breeding, genome editing, and precision phenotyping. Mainstreaming grain nutritional traits, viz., iron and zinc contents in genetic improvement are essential to develop high‐yielding and nutrient‐rich pearl millet. There is need to enhance the consumption of pearl millet by strengthening existing value‐chain, providing consumer a choice of diverse range of food products, creating awareness about its health benefits and promotion through government schemes.

Export potential of millets from India: Current status and short-term forecast

This study examined the status and trends of millet exports from India and forecasts future exports based on monthly export data and the ARIMA-TDNN model. Millets, also known as nutri cereals, have been gaining attention for their potential to achieve food and nutritional security sustainably. The Indian government launched several initiatives to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets following the 2018 declaration of the National Year of Millets. Subsequently, the UN General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. India is a significant producer of millets, accounting for 17 per cent of the global cultivation area and 18 per cent of the world’s millet production. The average yield of millets in India is 1.40 t/ha, exceeding the global average. However, India accounts for less than 2 per cent of the world's millet exports. Keywords: Bajra, export, forecasting, neural network, nutri cereals, ragi, sorghum. JEL Codes: C53, Q17, Q18.