Constraints to Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) Production and Farmers’ Approaches to Striga hermonthica Management in Burkina Faso

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a staple food crop in Burkina Faso that widely grown the Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones, characterised by poor soil conditions erratic rainfall, high temperatures. The objective of this study was to document farmers’ perceptions prevailing constraints affecting pearl production related approaches manage parasitic weeds S. hermonthica. conducted Sahel, zones North, North Central, West Central Plateau, South Faso. Data were collected through structured questionnaire focus group discussions involving 492 participant farmers. Recurrent drought, hermonthica infestation, shortage labour, lack fertilisers, cash, use low-yielding varieties main challenges hindering areas. majority respondents (40%) ranked infestation as primary constraint production. Respondent farmers reported yield losses up 80% due infestation. 61.4% areas had achieved mean yields <1 t/ha. Poor access cost introduced seed, preferred traits existing reasons for their low adoption, 32% respondents. management options fields included moisture conservation using terraces, manual hoeing, hand weeding, microplots locally referred ‘zaï’, rotation mulching. These techniques ineffective because they do not suppress below ground are difficult implement. Integrated practices employing breeding resistant with aforementioned control measures could offer sustainable solution improved productivity