
In the Sahelian region of West Africa, pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum is a major staple food crop cultivated in poor sandy and loamy soils. Although monocropping is common, millet is often intercropped with cowpea, sorghum, or groundnut. Pearl millet is still the best choice for indigenous communities, because it is compatible with their food habits/preferences; it has good nutritional value; the crop has low input requirements; and it tolerates drought, heat, and erratic rainfall. Grain production is affected by the amount and seasonal distribution of rains and is negatively affected by weeds, pests, and plant pathogens.