pearl millet
Quick Summary
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a tall cereal grass known for its large leaves and dense, round seed spikes. It is widely cultivated for both its edible seeds and as forage. Millets, in general, are cereal grasses grown for their small seeds and are ancient crops originating in Asia and Africa.12
Pearl millet is particularly suited to soils with low fertility and limited moisture, making it a popular food crop in regions like India and sub-Saharan Africa. Compared to other grains, millets are generally more tolerant of harsh growing conditions, poor soils, and drought, often requiring fewer inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. The United Nations recognized the global importance of millets by naming 2023 "the year of the millets".2
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