ARS 101

Lead  Institution:  ARS/USDA Georgia 

Project Title:  Breeding Pearl Millet with Improved Performance, Stability, and Resistance to Pests, U.S.

U.S. PI:  Jeffrey P. Wilson, USDA-ARS, P.O. Box 748, Tifton, GA, 31793-0748

Collaborating  Scientists: 

Nigeria:
Ignatius Angarawai, Lake Chad Research Institute, KM 6 Gamboru Ngala Rd., P.M.B. 1293, Maiduguri, Nigeria

Senegal:
Ousmane Sy, ISRA, BP 53 CNRA. Bambey, Senegal

Burkina Faso:
Hamidou Traore, Institut de l'Environnement et Recherches Agricoles/CREAF de Kamboinse, 01 B.P. 476, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso

Mali:
Moussa Sonogo, Institut d'Economie Rurale du Mali, Cinzana Agricultural Research Station, BP 214, Ségou , Mali

Summary:

Pearl millet is widely grown in the semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia and is historically recognized as a subsistence staple crop of the poorest people living in the most difficult production environments. Commonly used as a forage and cover crop in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, and Australia, varieties are being developed for grain production in these non-traditional regions because of pearl millet’s superior tolerance to heat, drought, and low soil fertility - attributes that will become increasingly important in the face of global climate change. Its vast genetic variability has barely been harnessed for improving production in both traditional and non-traditional environments. Because of its dependability of harvests in harsh production environments, and the potential to improve yield and quality, pearl millet will be a key component in the future prosperity of Africa, and will provide new economic opportunities for the U.S.

The vision for this project “Breeding Pearl Millet with Improved Performance, Stability and Resistance to Pests” is to improve food security, enhance farm income, and contribute to economic activity in the major pearl millet-producing countries in Africa. Through multinational and multidisciplinary collaborations, research will target production traits required by growers, market-driven traits required by end-users, traits to advance hybrid technology for the development of a private-sector seed industry, and traits to reduce the demand on women’s labor for post-harvest processing.

Superior varieties and experimental pearl millets will be evaluated across diverse agro ecological zones. Traits to improve yield, production stability, product value, and quality will be introduced into selected varieties. The capacity to target important characteristics will be facilitated through genetic mapping technologies. Mutual benefits to Africa and the U.S. will be realized through the development and transfer of new technologies, and by strengthening human and institutional capacity.

This project will contribute to profitable market expansion by working with agencies that disseminate technology to producers, assess economics, and facilitate the production-supply chain to deliver quality grain to end-users. New germplasm resulting from this project will promote economic development when coupled with appropriate technology transfer activities of regional, interdisciplinary, and multi-organizational teams. Through collaborative research and activities with other INTSORMIL projects, USDA-ARS, U.S. universities, national agricultural research systems (NARS) and universities in developing countries, ICRISAT, and appropriate NGOs, this project will be a major contributor to the genetic improvement of pearl millet for Africa and the U.S.