RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

Varietal Improvement of Pearl Millet in West Africa
Oumar Niangado 1 and Botourou Ouendeba 2
Abstract
West Africa is the center of pearl millet origin and diversity. The crop is grown throughout West Africa on
about 13 million ha, concentrated mainly in the Sahelian zone. The generally low yields are frequently due
to the cropping conditions: poor soils, deficit rainfall, and low technology.
Highly variable landraces are well adapted to the local ecological conditions, and several characters,
including crop duration, plant height, and head length, could be used for crop improvement.
Varietal improvement work began in 1931 with the objective to increase productivity of local cultivars.
Only a few of the resulting populations were released since they were only marginally superior to the
landraces. Monitoring of the new varieties by the extension services was also not adequate. Funding for
food-crop programs was insufficient compared to cash-crop programs.
If production is to increase in the future, a closer integration of the various millet research programs is
required. Because millet is essentially grown as a food crop, the primary objective should be yield stability.
Introduction
Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum), along with
sorghum, is the staple food crop for millions of
people in Africa, hence the priority assigned by certain
countries to its improvement. Pearl millet is
grown throughout Africa, but particularly in West
Africa, where the cultivated area covers about 13
million ha (FAO 1983).
Pearl millet is reported to have originated in West
Africa, but while there is general agreement regarding
the location for the domestication of the species,
the period remains controversial (Murdock 1959,
Munson 1972). It is difficult to verify the different
hypotheses with the current archeological and ethnobotanical
data. Brunken et al. (1977) believe that
millet was domesticated in the Sahara region between
2000 and 3000 B.C.
Low yields are primarily due to factors such as
climatic conditions, particularly inadequate and
poorly distributed rainfall; soils low in organic matter
and nutrients; and plant material with a low
production potential although adapted to the environment.
Agricultural production is a renewable resource—
the potential increases with each development in
agricultural science and technology. Adequate yields
are obtained by using a proper balance of components:
plant material (variety or hybrid), cultural
techniques, and crop protection (diseases and pests).
A l l these aspects of crop improvement have been
studied in the research work carried out in West
Africa since 1931 (Etasse 1966).
Substantial progress has been made at the research
stations, but yields in farmers' fields have not risen
above 460 kg ha -1 in the Sahelian zone.
The major food-producing countries in West
Africa are Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Burkina
Faso, and Senegal. Millet yields range from 200 kg
ha -1 in Mauritania, a desert country, to 842 kg ha -1
in Gambia, partially located in the Sudanian zone.
Exceptionally high yields of 4000 kg ha -1 have been
recorded under irrigation in Egypt.
Major Limiting Factors
in West Africa
The complex nature of the constraints makes them
difficult to classify. In Mali, yield losses due to mil-
1. Millet Breeder and Director, Station de la recherche agronomique de Cinzana, B.P. 214, Segou, Mali.
2. Millet Breeder and Director, Station de recherche agronomique de Kolo, B.P. 449, Niamey, Niger.
1CRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics). 1987. Proceedings of the International Pearl Millet
Workshop, 7-11 April 1986, ICRISAT Center, India. Patancheru, A.P. 502324, India: ICRISAT.
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