RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT
RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT
RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT
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levels of adoption. The relative contribution of each<br />
of the inputs to farmers of divergent resource bases<br />
operating at different levels of skills and management<br />
should be determined.<br />
Multiple Disease Resistance<br />
Disease-induced crop losses are controlled through<br />
incorporation of resistant genes into host cultivars.<br />
The breeding of multiple disease-tolerant varieties<br />
should form the basic strategy to manage diseases in<br />
the coming decades. This appears to be particularly<br />
true of pearl millet, so often threatened with several<br />
diseases. The breakdown of downy mildew resistance,<br />
and the low frequency of ergot- and smut-tolerant<br />
pearl millets should open new vistas in biochemical<br />
pathology.<br />
Downy mildew. Genetic studies have revealed strong<br />
cytoplasmic differences between F,s and reciprocal<br />
F 1 s (Harinarayana 1980). The F 1 s have been similarly<br />
ranked as their parents, confirming the cytoplasmic<br />
differences. Pooling resistant genes in a<br />
chosen cytoplasm appears worthwhile to stabilize<br />
downy mildew resistance.<br />
The Indian parents were less susceptible than their<br />
African counterparts, revealing differential vulnerability<br />
due to different genes or races. The differential<br />
reaction combined with the reversal of cytoplasmic<br />
effects suggested the potential of Indian x<br />
African crosses for India, and African x Indian<br />
crosses for Africa.<br />
Ergot. Pollination prior to ergot infection appears<br />
to prevent invasion of the stigma through a postpollination<br />
stigmatic constriction (Willingale and Mantle<br />
1985). Ergot resistance based on selection for<br />
minimizing the time period between stigma emergence<br />
and anthesis has been successful (Willingale et<br />
al. 1986). Alternatively, apomictic genes from related<br />
species could be incorporated into cultivated<br />
Pennisetums. Heterogeneous hybrids, hybrid mixtures,<br />
and genocropping systems could conceivably<br />
match the need for high grain yield and temporal<br />
pollen provision (Thakur et al. 1983).<br />
Disease control. Metalaxyl compounds appear to<br />
control downy mildew infection, prevent its secondary<br />
infection, and reduce the spore load in the soil.<br />
Seed treatment, sprays, and soil formulations are<br />
very effective but expensive. Cheaper, but effective<br />
chemical formulations to contain downy mildew<br />
and other diseases need to be identified.<br />
Policy Needs<br />
Pearl millet in the food security system. The global<br />
food security system should build up national food<br />
grain buffer stocks. Pearl millet accounts for 12% of<br />
the area and 5.5% of the cereal production, and is a<br />
stabilizing force in the buffer stocks of India. Pearl<br />
millet is practically devoid of stored grain pests, and<br />
has a long storage life and keeping quality, minimizing<br />
storage costs. Pumping pearl millet into the food<br />
economy during low production years, even in preference<br />
to wheat and rice available at reasonable<br />
rates, provides nutritious food and reduces dependence<br />
on imported food grains. Price supports for<br />
millets should be coupled with guaranteed markets.<br />
The concomitant changes in food habits and demand<br />
would accelerate pearl millet development and<br />
production.<br />
Crop of poor resource base. Pearl millet efficiently<br />
uses soil moisture and nutrients. It has the ability to<br />
produce some grain even under the most adverse<br />
weather conditions. It is preferred by farmers as a<br />
low cost, low risk option, not by choice, but by<br />
necessity. Hence it is relegated to marginal areas—<br />
areas with low soil fertility and low soil moisture,<br />
those permanently deprived of a more productive<br />
resource base. This adversely affects pearl millet<br />
production. It is a partner in the management of<br />
marginal areas, and marginal productivity contributes<br />
to differential resource allocation not only at<br />
the farmers' level, but also by national planners and<br />
policy makers.<br />
Transfer of technology—a must. New technology<br />
has a key role to play in increasing the productivity<br />
of pearl millet. Specific technologies to suit small,<br />
medium, and large farmers as well as moisture and<br />
fertility gradients, have been developed by two A l l<br />
India Coordinated Projects, Millets and Dryland.<br />
These national research efforts are supplemented by<br />
international efforts through ICRISAT. These technologies<br />
have been tested on farmers' fields through<br />
Minikits, National Demonstrations, and Operational<br />
Research Projects.<br />
Doorstep technology delivery system. Small and<br />
marginal farmers have yet to benefit from newly<br />
developed production technologies. Small and marginal<br />
farmers are often concerned with earning their<br />
daily bread and do not have time enough to spare for<br />
information transfer at a fixed time and place. It is<br />
necessary to reach them where they are. It would be<br />
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