(Cicer arietinum L.) grain is an excellent source of high-quality protein, with a wide range of essential amino acids and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Grown on 11 million hectares, it is the world’s second-largest cultivated food legume. Though most of the chickpea area is concentrated in South Asia, its cultivation is gradually spreading to sub-tropical and tropical regions of Africa, North America and Oceania. Drought stress commonly affects the crop because it is largely grown during the postrainy season on residual soil moisture.>> More

(Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) is the preferred legume crop grown in marginal environments such as the tropics and subtropics. The crop is crucial to human and livestock diets, and adds to nutrition, soil fertility and incomes in the drylands. Its root system allows optimum utilization of soil moisture and nutrients and the ability to withstand intermittent moisture stresses. As a multipurpose crop, it finds use as dhal (dry, dehulled, split seed used for cooking); its tender, green seeds are used as a vegetable; crushed dry seeds as animal feed; green leaves as fodder; and stems as fuel wood and to make baskets, etc. It occupies 6.5% of the world’s total pulses area.>> More

(Arachis hypogaea) is an important oil-bearing leguminous crop that contributes significantly to the food and nutrition security of the poor. Its production is concentrated in Asia and Africa, where it is grown mostly by smallholder farmers under rainfed conditions with limited inputs. Its grain is rich in energy and protein, and can be consumed raw, roasted, boiled and processed or crushed to produce edible oils of high quality. Its haulms and oilcake meal are an excellent protein-rich feed for livestock and poultry. Grown on about 23 million hectares in over 100 countries, its cultivation is largely confined to developing countries in Asia and Africa. >> More

[Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is the staple food of more than 90 million people in the drier areas of Africa and Asia, where its stover is also a valued fodder resource. A hardy, warm-season cereal, it can survive on the poorest soils of the driest regions, on highly saline soils and in the hottest climates. It is annually grown on more than 29 million hectares across the arid and semi-arid tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
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[Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is the dietary staple of more than 500 million people in more than 30 countries. It is among the few resilient crops that can adapt well to future climate change conditions, particularly increasing drought, soil salinity, and high temperature. Cultivated in the drier areas of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia, it is the fifth most important cereal after rice, wheat, maize and barley, and It is grown on 42 million hectares in 98 countries.>> More

The ICRISAT genebank conserves germplasm of six small millets: finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, little millet, barnyard millet and kodo millet. Small millets are grown mainly as rainfed crops under marginal conditions of soil fertility and moisture. They are primarily used to prepare roti, porridge or can be cooked similar to rice......>> More