ABSTRACT
The grasses known collectively as millets are a set of highly variable, small-seeded plant species indigenous to many areas of the world (Table 1). They are well adapted to grow under low soil fertility, low moisture, and hot environmental conditions. Millets are of value especially in semiarid regions because of their short growing season and higher productivity under heat and drought conditions. Often millets are produced in areas where maize and sorghum crops may fail. Some millets, such as teff or fonio, are prized for their taste and functionality in nondrought years and can bring higher prices per bushel than the more common millets [133]. The grain and forage are valuable as food and feed resources in Africa, Russia, India, and China. Common and Scientific Names of the Major Types of Millets
Scientific names
Common names
Locations
Pennisetum glaucum P. americanum P. typhoides
Pearl millet, bajra, cattail millet, bulrush, spiked millet
Africa, India
Panicum milaceum
Proso millet, broomcorn millet, hog millet, samai, panivarigu, common millet
China, Russian Federation, United States
Eleusine coracana
Finger millet, ragi, bird’s foot millet, African millet, tamba
Africa, India, China
Setaria italica
Foxtail millet, pavane, Italian millet, German millet, kangni
China, Near East, Europe
Digitaria exilis D. iburua
Fonio, acha, pene, fundi, hungry rice, iburu
West and North Africa
Panicum sumatrense P. psilopdium
Little millet, sama
India, Nepal, Burma
Eragrostis tef E. abyssinica
Teff
East Africa, Ethiopia
Paspalum scrobiculatum P. commersoni
Kodo millet, varagu
Southern Asia
Echinochloa crusgalli E. utilis E. frumentacea E. colona
Japanese barnyard, Japanese millet, barnyard millet sawa
Asia
