Knowledge for Development

Enhancing the sorghum value chain

Sorghum is crucial for food and nutritional security for over 300 million people, particularly for communities living in arid and semi-arid lands in sub-Saharan Africa. Its ability to grow in harsh environments where other crops would not survive is an added advantage. Sorghum has also been endorsed by the regional economic communities in sub-Saharan Africa as one of the strategic commodities for targeted investments. In addition to its food use as grain or in syrup, it has wider commercial potential for the production of fodder, alcoholic beverages (e.g. beer) and biofuels. While in the past sorghum had attracted less research investment than other staple crops e.g. cereals such as wheat, rice and corn, sequencing of the genome has provided added opportunities for varietal improvements including enhancing nutritional properties and boosting yield under a range of conditions. Researchers all over the world in both developed and developing countries are conducting research on this crop. 

Our new dossier provides access to lead opinion pieces, and links to documents, projects and related websites covering a range of issues including genetic enhancement of sorghum, bio-fortification and improvement of its nutritional value, key research areas, and aspects of value chain development including public-private partnership and the potential for sweet sorghum for environmentally sustainable fuel production. 

In their lead article, Florence Wambugu and Nehemiah Mburu of Africa Harvest describe how the Africa Harvest organisation is partnering with international research centres of the CGIAR and local national agricultural research institutes (NARIs) to improve the crop. Examples from Kenya and Tanzania show that improved access to high-quality certified seeds, intensification of production and adoption of good agronomic practices have led to increased productivity, stronger market links and higher volumes being traded between the two countries. 

In her lead article, Eva Weltzien, principal scientist at ICRISAT-Mali describes how sorghum breeders across Africa have been able to develop improved varieties resistant to Striga, and tolerant of high salinity and low phosphorus conditions using local landraces, as well as reintroduce landraces that may have been lost. She notes that the germplasm base must be well known and understood and particular varieties chosen appropriately and in consultation with local stakeholders and farmers to know what varieties might be most suitable. Due recognition of the local knowledge which guides the final selection is critical.

This folder was prepared by CABI, KIT and CTA in July 2014. 

Sorghum in Africa: research opportunities and priorities

by Eva Weltzien, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Mali
In her lead article, Eva Weltzien, principal scientist at ICRISAT-Mali describes how sorghum breeders across Africa have been able to develop improved varieties resistant to Striga, and tolerant of high salinity and low phosphorus conditions using local landraces, as well as reintroduce landraces that may have been lost. She notes that the germplasm base must be well known and understood and particular varieties chosen appropriately and in consultation with local stakeholders and farmers to know what varieties might be most suitable. Due recognition of the local knowledge which guides the final selection is critical. 28/07/2014
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Potential for sorghum in food security and economic development among communities in arid and semi-arid lands in Africa

by Florence Wambugu, CEO and Nehemiah Mburu, Business & Project Manager, Africa Harvest
In their lead article, Florence Wambugu and Nehemiah Mburu of Africa Harvest describe how the Africa Harvest organisation is partnering with international research centres of the CGIAR and local national agricultural research institutes (NARIs) to improve the crop. Examples from Kenya and Tanzania show that improved access to high-quality certified seeds, intensification of production and adoption of good agronomic practices have led to increased productivity, stronger market links and higher volumes being traded between the two countries. 28/07/2014
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Developing variety types with high degrees of heterozygosity and genetic heterogeneity for adaptation traits helps achieve better individual and population buffering capacity. Traits that potentially enhance adaptive phenotypic plasticity or yield stability in variable climates include photoperiod-sensitive flowering, plastic tillering, flooding tolerance, seedling heat tolerance, and phosphorus efficiency. Farmer-participatory dynamic genepool management using broad-based populations and diverse selection environments is useful to develop new diverse germplasm adapted to specific production constraints including climate variability. For sustainable productivity increase, improved cultivars should respond to farmer-adoptable soil fertility management and water harvesting techniques. Larger-scale, on-farm participatory testing will enable assessments of varietal performance under evolving climatic variability, provide perspective on needs and opportunities, and enhance adoption. Strengthening seed systems will be required to achieve sustainable impacts.   (Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 2012) 28/07/2014
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Anne Gesare Timu, of ILRI and colleagues from the University of Nairobi and the Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Kenya examined the effect of variety attributes on adoption of improved sorghum varieties in Kenya. Using data from a random sample of 140 farmers, a multivariate probit was used to identify variety-specific drivers of adoption. Farmers perceived that improved varieties had desirable production and marketing attributes while the local varieties had the best consumption attributes. The major attributes driving rapid adoption of sorghum varieties were taste, drought tolerance, yield, ease of cooking, and the ability to fetch a price premium. Early maturity, a major focus of research was found to have no effect on the adoption decision. The findings of the study implies that breeders should focus more on non-yield attributes like taste and ease of cooking to increase adoption and satisfy the multiple needs of the farmers. (Agriculture & Food Security, 09/05/2014)  28/07/2014
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Bob Fanning, extension plant pathology field specialist at the South Dakota State University, USA, explains why growing sorghum in a crop rotation can help mitigate risks associated with droughts. Fanning argues that each crop that can be integrated into agricultural production systems offers more flexibility of intensity and diversity, which especially contributes to the sustainable profitability of no-till production systems. Sorghum shares the water use efficiency of other warm-season grass crops and can serve as a rotational crop to help control Goss' Wilt, a bacterial disease that can seriously plague maize producers. (Plant management Network, 29/04/2014) 28/07/2014
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