In India, pearlmillet is the fifth most important cereal grain crop next to rice, wheat, maize and sorghum. Today, it is getting more attention due to increasing evidence of less seasonal rainfall, terminal heat, frequent occurrence of extreme weather events coupled with scanty water resources. Pearlmillet traditionally is an indispensable component of dry-farming system and it is considering more efficient in utilization of soil moisture, and has a higher level of heat tolerance than even sorghum and maize. It occupies a distinct position in the agricultural economy of the country. As a result of agronomic research on moisture management, nutrient management, weed management and sowing dates conducted at different locations of the country; pearl millet productivity has gone up from 539 kg/ha during 1986–90 to 1069 kg/ha in 2011 registering a 98% improvement, which is highest among all food crops. The rate of improvement in pearlmillet productivity during 1986–2010 has been 20 kg/ha/year as compared to 6.3 kg/ha/year during 1960–85. This extent of improvement in pearlmillet productivity has resulted in more than 45% improvement in its grain production, from 5.83 million t during 1986–90 to 10.1 million t during 2011.
Agronomic bio-fortification, Moisture management, Nutrient management, Sowing date, Weed management, Pearlmillet
