Publisher's Synopsis
The transformation of agriculture to more productive systems has often been accompanied by increased production of fewer crops. Concurrently, the area and production of a great diversity of traditional crops have declined. Yet in many parts of the world, these traditional crops play an important role in maintaining stable and sustainable forms of agriculture.;One such traditional group of cereal crops is the small millets. They are grown in arid, semi-arid or mountainous zones as rainfed crops, under marginal and submarginal conditions of soil fertility and moisture. Small millets occupy over 25 million hectares world-wide. While it produces a more reliable harvest than any other crop, there is still vast potential to improve its yield through the use of irrigating facilities and modern technology. Hence, small millets warrant greater research.;Presently, small millets are cultivated in areas where they produce more dependable harvests compared with any other crop. This has been largely responsible for their continued presence and cultivation in many parts of the world. There is now an increasing realization of this fact, and a greater awareness that these crops merit more research and development.;As a response to this need, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (New Delhi), University of Agricultural Sciences (Bangalore) and the International Research Centre (Canada) jointly organized the first International Workshop on Small Millets in October 1986 at Bangalore, India, and the proceedings of that workshop are contained in this volume.
