Bullrush millet, Pearl millet

Where does Bullrush millet grow?

Found in: Africa, Algeria, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Oman, Pakistan, Sahara, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, United States, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 100 Pennisetum species. Chemical composition: Protein = 11.5%. Fat = 6.03%. Carbohydrate = 40.73%. Ash = 8.23%.

Status: It is cultivated for its grain. It is the second most important native African cereal. It is grown on 14 million hectares in Africa and 11 million hectares in India and Pakistan. It is the staple food of 100 million people.

Growing Bullrush millet, Pearl millet

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. It is usually sown directly into the field. The plant density is adjusted to suit rainfall and soil fertility. The spacing is 45 cm apart up to 200 cm apart. It is also intercropped with other crops such as cowpea, sorghum and peanut. Crops are normally weeded 2 or 3 times.

Edible Uses: The seeds are eaten like rice. They are also ground into flour and made into bread and cakes and porridge. They are used to make alcoholic drinks. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. They are mixed with other grains and seeds to make fermented foods. Some kinds have sweet stalks that are chewed. The young ears can be roasted and eaten like sweet corn. The plant is also infested by a fungus which is eaten.

Production: It takes from 75-180 days to maturity. The heads can be picked by hand or the plant removed. Some types need to be picked 2 or 3 times as heads mature.

Nutrition Info

Bullrush millet, Pearl millet Photos

References

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