Status paper on production of pearl millet in pakistan

Pearl millet, like sorghum or sudan grass, is an annual, semi-arid tropical grass-plant grown For forage and grain under the environmental conditions that are too harsh to grow other Cereals to maturity. These regions are characterized by erratic distribution of annual rainfall, high mean temperature and depleted soil-fertility. Limited use of improved cultivers, inadequate plant-population, low level of fertilizer-application, weed-control measures and water-conservation practices. mainly contribute to reduced yield levels. Millet grain is chiefly Consumed as food, but it has high value as feed for poultry and in ruminant's diet. This is also an indispensable source of fodder. Experimental evidence and demonstrations on cultivated field. have revealed that, through adoption of improved production-technology developed in recent years, the forage and grain-yield can be enhanced substantially much beyond subsistence-level in all pearl-millet regions. Efforts on varietal improvement and there by increased area under high-yielding varieties has played a major role in doubling the Productivity. However, in order to realize the yield-potential of unproved varieties, it is essential that other components, like improved agronomic practices and plant-protection measures be integrated effectively in the production-technology. (author)