An annual grass crop
Originated in the African savanna. Has been grown since prehistoric times.
Grown as a feed grain in Africa, Asia, and the Near East.
In the USA, usually grown as a temporary pasture in the southern tier of states. Preferred over sudangrass as a forage crop
Trial varieties grown in Minnesota produced little seed, forage yield was low compared to foxtail varieties.
Also grown as an ornamental.

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Plants of the World online says:
"100 million people in parts of tropical Africa and India depend on pearl millet as their staple food source."

Also:
"The grains can be boiled or steamed directly, or ground into a flour to make bread, porridge or couscous.Pearl millet and pulses can be seasoned to make delicious snacks popular in Africa.The grain is also used in the making of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Millet beer, for example is often considered a staple of religious and social life in Africa.Pearl millet is high in protein which makes it an excellent feed for poultry and other livestock."

The stems of the plant are used for fencing, thatching and building materials. The red and purple varieties of pearl millet are used for making dyes for leather and wood. "

Also:
"Pearl millet also has a number of medicinal applications. In African traditional medicine the grain is used to treat chest disorders, leprosy, blennorrhoea and poisonings. A decoction made from the roots is used in the treatment of jaundice and the vapour from inflorescence extracts is inhaled for respiratory diseases in children."

Finally:
"Pearl millet has been found to be effective in suppressing root-lesion nematodes ( Pratylenchus penetrans ) and is being used as an alternative to soil fumigation in tobacco and potato cropping in Canada."
All in all, an extremely useful plant.

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