Pennisetum Agronomic Statistics

Millet Agronomic Statistics

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Figure 1*

Figure 2*

*Global Millet Production Map

Figure 1 (above left) shows production contribution of the top 10 Millet producing countries in 2005. Figure 2 (above right) shows all 2005 millet production records from countries producing at least 1 Metric ton. Together these countries produce more than 88% of the global millet. (The remaining 11% comes from countries producing less than 1 Mt each).

Global Millet Production

Millets are grouped together when reporting global millet production, therefore it is difficult to determine the production amounts of each individual genus. As a general estimate millet production is broken down into the following percentages:(1)

50% - Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
Proso (30% - Panicum miliaceum) and Foxtail (Setaria italica)
10% - Fingermillet (Eleusine coracana)
10% - Other: incl. Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa crus-galli) and Kodo Millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum)

Pearl millet is currently the world's sixth most important cereal grain (2, 3) and is grown extensively in Africa, Asia, India and the Near East as a food grain (4) and is the staple source of nutrition for millions of people(3). Millets were introduced into the United States at an early date but were seldom grown until 1875, and currently they are primarily grown for birdseed, animal feed, and forages rather than human consumption.. (4)

Country Contributions World Millet Production

Figure 3 shows the contribution of the top producing countries to global production. Note that China, India and Nigeria produce the majority of the world's millet crop. Over the past 50 years, the percentage of the world millet production in China has significantly decreased, while Nigeria has increased.

Figures 4 and 5 show the metric tonnes of global millet production. Overall, millet production has fluctuated but remained on a steady average, (Figure 5) while the land mass dedicated to millet production has decreased (Figure 4).

Figure 3*

Figure 4*

Figure 5*

For more information on global millet production and trends in pearl millet, see:

Pearl Millet
Lost Crops of Africa: Pearl Millet
Pearl Millet: New Feed Grain Crop
Millet - Production, Consumption, Exports, and Imports Statistics
Major World Crop Areas and Climatic Profiles
Millet Production
Sorghum and Millets in Human Nutrition
Pearl Millet Forage Production in North Dakota
Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops