The traditional grain crops in Africa are millet and sorghum,
and these grains are cultivated throughout the drier parts of
SSA. Both crops tend to have lower yields than maize (and
usually only a single annual harvest). They are, however, important
food-security grains because of their relative drought
tolerance. Nearly all millet in Africa is of the bulrush/pearl
type, rather than fi nger. On the plant, millet and sorghum
grains are exposed on panicles that suffer considerable loss
from pests in the fi eld—particularly birds—but they are usually
harvested very dry and are therefore relatively resistant
to postharvest pest attacks. When placed in good storage,
even without any insecticide treatment, small-grained millet
can be kept for two or three years with relatively little damage
(e.g., in Namibia).