RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

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