Pearl millet (to the left) and sorghum (below) are the most important crops in the Sahel (ICRISAT 2006 a, b). Millet is mostly cultivated on sandy soils while sorghum is more adapted to sandy limonous soils. Late varieties are not adapted to the while more early varieties have low yield potential.

Crop establishment of millet and sorghum farming is often difficult in the Sahel and replanting is often necessary. Rodents, insects and fungus often attack seeds. Mildew attacks particularly represent a major problem (ICRISAT 2006 b). Two weedings are necessary in order to adequately control weeds.  

Most varieties of millet and sorghum are photosensitive. For each variety, there is a specific flowering date that is independent of the sowing date. The earlier varieties ripen after 75 days while the later ones require 120 to 150 days. The late varieties may be used as fodder varieties in the Sahel. Fodder millet must be cut before flowering otherwise the stem lignifies and loses its nutritional value. Fodder millet may be more profitable than grain millet. The production of seeds of fodder millet varieties may represent a problem as they are late varieties and there are risks of making genetic blends with traditional varieties.  

The striga is weed reduces millet and sorghum yields. The striga has great genetic variability. This makes it difficult to develop striga resistant varieties. Certain sorghum varieties are tolerant to striga attacks.

Information on:

Millet illnesses and insects:
http://tchad.ipm-info.org/guide/mil_penicillaire.htm

Sorghum illnesses and insects:
http://tchad.ipm-info.org/guide/sorgho.htm

Sorghum: http://www.fao.org/docrep/W1808F/w1808f02.htm

Millet: http://www.fao.org/docrep/W1808F/w1808f03.htm#TopOfPage

Millet production:
http://www.bibliotheque.refer.org/livre24/l2408.pdf

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