Availability and utilization of pearl millet in India.

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most widely \ngrown type of millet. Because of its tolerance to difficult \ngrowing conditions such as drought, low soil fertility and \nhigh temperature, it can be grown in areas where other \ncereal crops, such as maize (Zea mays) or wheat \n(Triticum aestivum), would not survive. Pearl millet \nproduction is concentrated in the developing countries \nwhich account for over 95% of the production and acreage. \nIndia continues to be the single largest producer of pearl \nmillet in the world, although the area has been declining \nin the traditional growing states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and \nHaryana. Pearl millet is usually grown as a dryland dualpurpose grain and fodder crop although it is sometimes \nirrigated in India, particularly the summer crop grown \nmainly as a forage crop.