Millet, production

Millet ranks among the top four most important cereals (rice, maize, sorghum and millets) grown in the tropics. Of the millets, pearl millet is the most widely grown and it is of significant importance especially in the semiarid tropics (SAT).

Millets are among the four most important cereals (rice, maize, sorghum and millets) grown in the tropics. Of the millets, pearl millet is the most widely grown and it is of significant importance especially in the semiarid tropics (SAT).

Outside Africa, millets are also grown in China, The Russian Federation, Mexico, Australia and USA.

Despite the importance of millets, production in semiarid regions has remained low.

Low yields of millets and sorghum in semiarid areas is generally attributed to lack of high yielding hybrids and to the fact that these crops are largely grown as rainfed crops in these areas (Norman et al, 1995).

Millet can be grown as a sole crop, mixed crop or as an intercrop. Under traditional cropping systems, millets are largely grown as a component of mixed or intercropping patterns than as a sole crop. This is mainly because of the numerous advantages associated with the intercropping/mixed cropping systems. However, it's also important to note that a small percentage of millets in SAT are usually grown under irrigation as sole crops.

There are many types of millets grown worldwide. Here we present a review of the two major types; Pearl millet and Finger millet.

Red dots showing Millet producing countries in the world⁷

Millet grain is resistant to drought and grows in virtually any soil. It thrives on light textured and well-drained soils.

These facts make millet an important food staple all over the African continent, particularly in the semiarid areas of the Western Africa where other crops tend to fail because inadequate rainfall and poor soil conditions.

World production statistics for different types of millet have been lumped together as millets.

Recent statistics (FAOSTAT, ICRISAT) however indicate that 50% of the total millet grain production is pearl millet, 30% proso/golden and fox tail millet and 10% finger millet. The remaining 8 species are of little economic importance and account for only 10% of the world millets production.

»  See top 20 millet producers worldwide [PDF 105KB]
»  See world production of millets: area harvested (Ha) 1998-2003
   [PDF 279KB]
»  See world millet yields (Hg/ha) 1998-2003 [PDF 285KB]
»  Major Millet producing countries: area, yield and production of
   countries producing over 400,000 MT/year (2003) [PDF 84KB]