Abstract:

Pearl millet is a sustainable food security crop for people living in areas with extreme drought and heat conditions. Like in many countries where it is grown, in Uganda the crop grows in semi-arid zones characterised by low average annual rainfall and hot conditions. Despite saving many from hunger, not much is known about the crop. Studies were therefore initiated to generate information on the production characteristics of pearl millet in Uganda, genetic improvement and to assess gene action for grain yield and rust resistance. A survey and experiments were conducted in two predominantly pearl millet growing areas with four objectives: 1) to establish production determinants of the pearl millet cropping system with related uses, constraints and desirable traits, 2) to determine the response to St progeny recurrent selection for rust resistance and grain yield in two local populations, 3) to study the inheritance and gene action for grain yield and rust resistance in improved pearl millet germplasm, and 4) to determine the stability of improved pearl millet lines and crosses for grain yield and rust resistance. The first objective was achieved by conducting a participatory rural appraisal in four districts (Kumi and Katakwi in the East, Kitgum and Lamwo in the North), where data was collected from 140 households. The second objective was achieved by subjecting two commonly grown rust susceptible populations (Omoda from East and Lam from North) to two cycles of phenotypic S, progeny recurrent selection and the cycles evaluated in randomised complete block design with three replications, three locations and one season. Objective three was achieved by crossing six rust resistant male parents with ten rust susceptible female lines in a North Carolina design II mating design. The parents and crosses were evaluated in four environments in a 4 x 19 alpha lattice design. Additionally, data from the same experiment were used to achieve objective four. The survey findings indicated that pearl millet was mainly grown for food and income. The production environment was low input, where farmers used family labour, planted unimproved genotypes and used neither chemicals nor manure to enhance productivity. Majority of the households had minimal access to credit, agricultural trainings or extension services. The households identified the most desirable variety traits that enhanced yield as stay green, tall, high tillering, high yield, early maturity and ergot resistant. The constraints that reduced yield were ergot and rust susceptibility, short genotypes, low yielding, low tillering, late maturity, and sterile panicles. Lack of markets, low prices and price fluctuation were the most important market constraints. Farmers also lacked knowledge about rust. Regression analysis showed that area planted, age of spouse and experience in pearl millet cultivation were the most important factors enhancing grain yield, while age of the household head, amount of seed planted and distance to the market negatively affected grain yield.