Assessing production constraints, management and use of sorghum diversity in north-east Ghana: a diagnostic study

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of a diagnostic study conducted to assess the problems and needs of sorghum farmers in north-east Ghana with the aim of determining the type of research that would be useful for them in their own context. The importance of the crop and its position within the cropping system are identified. Sorghum is still an integral part of the livelihoods of farmers. The crop is very versatile and not only contributes to food security but also plays a part in the socio-cultural, socioeconomic, and religious aspects of the lives of farmers. Farmers have different uses for the varieties they grow, which depends on the morphological, agronomic and gastronomic traits of the crop. Sorghum varieties introduced from the research institutions have several problems including lodging, poor grain quality, bird damage and precocious germination. Farmers have developed management strategies for dealing with some of these problems. Nevertheless, further work is required by breeders to make the varieties more acceptable to users. Sorghum production constraints identified include poor soils, erratic rainfall and pest infestation of the grain during storage. The diagnostic study suggests that because farmers produce their own seed, enhancing their ability to improve the quality of their seed would be of benefit to them. The study further underscores the importance and value of diversity for farmers. It also highlights their understanding of diversity, and management and use of variation in their agronomic practices. Areas identified for further research together with farmers aim at enhancing farmers' knowledge towards strengthening their practices in diversity management and improving seed storage practices.

Getting the focus right: production constraints for six major food crops in Asian and African farming systems

“…Several smaller studies highlighted the importance of Striga, poor soil fertility (including low nitrogen and phosphorus) and drought (especially water deficits during grain filling) among the most severe and widespread biophysical constraints to sorghum production in west, east and southern Africa (Chiduza et al 1995;Kudadjie et al 2004;Wubeneh and Sanders 2006). In South Asia the most severe constraints we identified agreed with those of Reddy et al (2007), who reported terminal drought, soil problems, and a range of insect pests and diseases to be important in India.…”

Sorghum head bug infestation and mould infection on the grain quality of sorghum in northern Ghana

“…Despite the important role that the crop plays in the livelihood of populations in the country (Kudadjie et al, 2004), production is constrained by a myriad of biotic and abiotic factors, including insect pests, of which head bugs (Eurystylus oldi) constitute a major entity (Atokple, 1993;Gerda and Christopher, 2007;Ochieng et al, 2011).…”

“…Bandyopadhyay et al (2000) stated that while grain mould fungi may penetrate sorghum grain directly under high humidity conditions, infection by these fungi can be aided by biotic factors especially insects. Kudadjie et al (2004) noted that in the Upper East Region of Ghana, three sorghum varieties, namely Naga white, Framida and Kapaala, from the savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) were introduced to farmers. A number of reasons, however, discouraged farmers from growing these improved varieties.…”

“…Although Kapaala was high yielding among the sorghum cultivars introduced, to farmers' its major problem was its compact headed nature which made it a favourable host for head bugs leading to severe damage, thus affecting the quality of the grains. Kudadjie et al (2004) indicated that breeders were already aware of the problem associated with Kapaala's susceptibility to head bug infestation and a hybridisation programme was being carried out to open up its panicle. The Savannah Agricultural Research Institute initiated a breeding programme and developed six open panicle derivatives of Kapaala that will be both high yielding and tolerant to head bug infestation and damage.…”

Complex agricultural livelihoods and aflatoxin exposure in rural Uganda

“…Since many rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan African countries depend, to a greater or lesser extent, on subsistence production of crops such as maize [14,15], it is important to understand the specific sources of aflatoxin exposure across diverse environments, in order to target adequately potential interventions. In Uganda, contamination by aflatoxin of many staple foods, including maize, cassava, groundnuts and locally manufactured baby foods (including baby soya and rice porridge) has been reported [8,[16][17][18][19].…”