ABSTRACT
Chapter 6 demonstrates the advantages of millet–legume crop systems, and their potential for addressing food security of the poor and suitability to droughts. The chapter discusses the multi-dimensional benefits of pulses–millets cropping systems in terms of food and nutrition provision, climate change adaptation and mitigation, drought and heat tolerance, greenhouse gases emission (GHG) reductions, soil fertility improvements and biodiversity enhancement. The chapter suggests possible changes needed in technology and policy that could help smallholders to adopt millets–pulses cropping systems and to realize the potentials of these future crops. These include technological improvements in improved seed varieties, improved cultivation practices including input management; and institutional and policy measures to improve market facilities and strengthen value chains, improve extension and advisory services and public food distribution systems, among others.
