Pearl Millet Production Guide

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), known as bulrush millet, is the most drought and soil acidity tolerant cereal that belongs to the grass family graminae. Pearl millet production is about half of the total production of cereals in Africa, in Southern Africa it covers about 23%. This cereal crop is commonly grown in Botswana and Namibia comparable to any other parts of Southern Africa; Zimbabwe. The indigenous crop’s cultivation has declined substantially in 20-30 years. It grows on poor sandy soils and within a range of rainfall from 350 to 700 mm per annum with the ability to withstand long spells of drought. This crop has the potential to regenerate to produce new basal tillers finally compensating for drought losses caused by drought and erratic conditions. Pearl millet is an insurance crop against drought from high-risk areas. The maize crop became familiar even in areas where the soils and climates favored pearl millet survival. The high percentage cereal maize cultivation indicates a near monoculture agriculture system; creating an agriculture in need of more crop diversity to reduce crop failures emanating from whether variations.

This production guide intends to compile some good agricultural practices and information related to physiological characteristics for pearl millet, including its diversity in Zimbabwe. It provides information on  its adaptation and survival, a guide on land and seed bed preparation, planting methods and time, soil and environmental adaptation, as well as the management of nutrition and fertility, including recurrent pests and diseases and the significance of cultural methods of weeds, disease and pest management.

This guide was developed as part of the project “Exploring wide crosses derived crop biodiversity for climate resilience and food and nutrition security in Eastern and Southern Africa” funded by the Benefit Sharing Fund (BSF) of the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).