ICRISAT advances pearl millet breeding for drought tolerance and better fodder quality

Crops & Farming Practices

Hyderabad: The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is advancing pearl millet breeding to improve drought tolerance, grain quality and fodder value, with a focus on strengthening farm productivity and climate resilience in dryland regions. These priorities were discussed at ICRISAT’s biennial Pearl Millet Scientists’ Field Day, held on October 12–13, which brought together 80 scientists from public research institutions and private seed companies across India, Africa, Japan and other regions. Participants evaluated advanced breeding materials and shared inputs on traits that could benefit farmers and expand the crop’s market potential. The event followed the release of RHB 273, developed by ICRISAT and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Described as the world’s first three-way pearl millet hybrid, it was developed for India’s low-rainfall A1 zone, with traits aimed at improving grain productivity, drought tolerance and fodder quality. The field day showcased 16,000 plots of pearl millet breeding materials, including B lines, R lines and forage lines. Scientists assessed traits such as drought and heat tolerance, disease resistance, early maturity, grain quality and fodder value. Researchers also evaluated materials with higher protein content, brown midrib (BMR) traits and sweet-stalk characteristics. These traits could create opportunities across...