ICRISAT and local seed companies to build a seed industry for supply of high performing hybrids to small holder farmers

Demand for sorghum and pearl millet as major food, feed and fodder crop continues to increase globally.  However, in the last 50 years, these grains have largely been abandoned in favor of the more popular maize, wheat, rice and soya beans. This is because of unavailability of improved and adaptable cultivars (a plant variety produced in cultivation by selective breeding) that are resistant to key biotics (living things and abiotic stresses such as water, air, soil and minerals).