Pearl millet has its origins in West Africa, where the oldest finds in Mauritania date to 1000 BC. With a cultivation area of 26 million hectares, pearl millet is the most economically significant small-seeded millet species. It is primarily cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa. The optimal annual precipitation for growing pearl millet lies between 200 and 600 mm, making it one of the most drought-resistant species of grain in existence.Malt made from pearl millet is used in some African countries to create opaque beers, as they are known. Germination is complete after 24 h. In a number of different studies, the β-amylase activity in pearl millet has been found to be as high as that in sorghum malt. Through experimentation on different varieties, germination at temperatures between 25 and 30 °C for 3–5 days was determined to be optimal for malting this grain. In Malawi, pearl millet serves as the basis for domestically brewed beers.