RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

with cowpea system was the most efficient. Studies to further improve the efficiency of pearl millet-grain
legume cropping systems carried out during 1982-85, led to identification of efficient genotypes of cowpea
(Charodi-1, S-8/G-1), green gram (FS-277), clusterbean (T-18/JMM-259), and mothbean. Suitable techniques
and contingency plans for stabilizing the production of pearl millet in aberrant weather situations have
also been developed and are discussed.
Breeding Pearl Millet Varieties for Arid Zones
(Selection des varietes de mil destinees aux zones arides)
M.B.L. Saxena
Senior Breeder (Millets), Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342 003, India
Pearl millet is an important cereal crop of arid zones of India. It's hardy nature, energy transfer efficiency
(leaves to grain), and efficiency in the utilization of limited moisture has made it more adapted to arid
conditions. However, the productivity in arid zones is low (250-280 kg ha -1 ), due to low and erratic rainfall and
low relative humidities, erosive winds, poor soil fertility and physical conditions such as high soil salinity, and
soil crusting. These problems restrict the establishment, growth, and yield of the crop.
Local varieties of pearl millet cultivated in these areas better withstand atmospheric aridity and drought
stress but they are poor yielders.
The right direction for the pearl millet program for arid zones is to breed varieties capable of producing
stable yields in adverse conditions such as limited moisture (drought tolerant), and which mature within the
period of moisture availability, have high yield potential, and are resistant to diseases and pests. Besides
description of the factors that limit high production of pearl millet under arid conditions, the prospects of
increasing yield through breeding better varieties are presented. The merits of hybrids, composites, and
synthetics of pearl millet for arid zones are discussed.
Breeding Pearl Millet for Drought in the Sudan
(Selection des mils resistants a la secheresse au Soudan)
El Hag H. Abu-el-gasim
Director & Millet Breeder, WSARP, PO Box 429, £1 Obeid, Sudan
and
R.P. Jain
Millet Breeder, U N D P / I C R I S A T , El Obeid, PO Box 913, Khartoum, Sudan
Pearl millet is the preferred staple food for the majority of the 6 million inhabitants of Western Sudan
(Kordofan and Darfur Regions). Among the cereals, it comes second to sorghum in area and total production
in the country. The millet area planted annually ranges from 1 to 1.5 million ha, and 90% of this area is in
western Sudan, mainly in the extensive sandy soils zone. The crop is raised under traditional, rainfed farming
methods with most of the production being centered in drier marginal areas of less than 500 mm of annual
rainfall. Yields are generally very low, the average being 275 kg ha -1 during droughts of the 5-year period
1981-85. Low and unreliable rainfall is the single most important constraint to millet production, hence the
need for breeding drought tolerant, early-maturing varieties. Other constraints include poor soil fertility and
cultural practices, insect pests and diseases, and socioeconomic constraints.
Millet breeding work was started in 1974, and was strengthened in 1977 through cooperation with
1CR1SAT. The program is concentrating on producing high-yielding, drought-tolerant, early-maturing
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