Millet Cultivation

Millet

Millet is considered as one of the first cultivated crops that have been in existence since the “Hoe age. Some years back, sorghum and even maize were included in this category. However, with increased usage and advances in research to improve its quality, first maize and later sorghum received separate status (Rachie, 1975). In South Asia however, sorghum is still considered as the great millet (Nayar, 1985). Across the globe, there are nine species of millets with a total production of 28.38 million tons, out of which 11.36 million tons are produced in Africa from six species and 15.17 million tons are produced in Asia, with India producing 10.70 million tons (Obilana, 2003). India has remained consistent as the world’s leading producer

They are currently classified as Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br. Cultivation of the various species probably occurred 5000 or more years ago in the savannah south of the Sahara, and west of the Nile. It was introduced in India about some 3000 years ago. Pearl millet cultivation in the United States of America began by 1873, and is believed to have come from Europe to the United States of America. Its cultivation in Europe began at the end of the nineteenth century (Le´der, 2004). It was brought to Ghana by invaders from the north and its cultivation began at Ntesero in northern Ghana as early as 1250 B.C. (Davies, 1968). Its ability to produce grains even under hot, dry conditions and infertile soils with low water holding capacity characteristic of northern Ghana, where other crops generally completely fail, has made it a preferred crop to start with immediately the rains set in. (CGIAR, 1996). Although they tend to tolerate higher temperatures than sorghum and maize, they are not able to withstand long drought periods as well as sorghum (Le´der, 2004). Birds are more likely to feed on pearl millet and thus, has limitations in wooded areas or places where these pests occur (Rachie,

(1993) states that, it is a highly tillering or tall growing, cross-pollinating species that has a perfect flower on each head. The inflorescence or flower according to (Fontaneli et al., 2001), is a single raceme 4–20 inches long, that has similar features like the flower of the aquatic plant known as cattail. There are special instances when stigma emergence on later flowering tillers, overlaps with the anthesis of earlier heads on the same plant resulting in self-pollination (Andrews et al, 1993).

Pearl millet is also characterized as a leafy plant with leaf blades ranging in length from 8-40 inches and width 1/2- 3 inches. Pearl millet has a relatively fast root development that extends laterally and downward into the soil profile to take advantage of available moisture and nutrient. Their strong deep rooting systems provides them with their drought tolerance abilities. The fruit of pearl millet is characterized by a white, pearl, yellow or brown colour. Occasionally they tend to have a purple colour and are cylindrical in nature (Fontaneli et al.,