Assessment of sorghum production constraints and farmer preferences for sorghum variety in Uganda: implications for nutritional quality breeding

Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is the main food staple grain widely cultivated in sub-Sharan Africa including Uganda. There is a lack of current information on sorghum production constraints and varietal trait preferences in the major sorghum production areas in Uganda. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the sorghum production constraints and farmer preferences for sorghum variety in Uganda. A participatory rural appraisal study was undertaken in four selected sorghum production districts in Uganda (Kumi, Bukedea, Oyam and Gulu). Data were collected through surveys using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussion involving 128 and 55 participants, respectively. Data were subjected to parametric and non-parametric statistical analyses to draw inferences. A lack of improved sorghum varieties was the major sorghum production constraint reported by 82.8% of participants. Farmer preferred ideal sorghum varieties were short to medium plant height with high grain yield. The quality attributes mostly preferred by farmers were baking quality, nutrition, and seed colour. Farmers in the study areas mainly grew unimproved sorghum varieties with low food values. Overall, the study provides the current evidence on sorghum production constraints and farmer-preferred attributes that will guide sorghum nutritional quality breeding with farmer preferred traits.

Finger Millet Production in Ethiopia: Opportunities, Problem Diagnosis, Key Challenges and Recommendations for Breeding

“…To appraise the monetary values of finger millet and other major crops production, the benefit to cost ratios were computed based on data collected in the study districts. The benefit to cost ratios were computed following the procedure of Adhikari [49] and Abraha et al [37]. Microsoft excel was used to summarize the quantitative data sets of the different variables for the cost-benefit analysis.…”

“…Plant breeders must understand farmers' situations and choices to design appropriate varieties to meet their needs. Several studies have used the PRA approach to gain insight into farmer production systems and varietal choices to prioritize breeding objectives, including in tef [37], sorghum [38], wheat [39]), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br) [40] and finger millet [41]. For example, drought is the major production constraint of finger millet in Eastern Uganda, according to Owere et al [24], and in sorghum production in Ethiopia [42,43].…”

Genetic diversity analysis of East African sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) germplasm collections for agronomic and nutritional quality traits

“…Biofortified sorghum provides a substantial amount of Zn (13,000 to 18,000 mg/100g) and Fe (10,000 mg/100g) for children from 4 to 6 years old. Some 300g grain of biofortified sorghum can provide 39,000 to 54,000 mg Zn and 30,000 mg Fe to lactating women ( Andiku et al., 2021 ). Iron supply is vital for producing new red blood cells, muscle growth, and brain development, while Zn is critical for embryo development, fetal growth, and milk expression in lactating mothers.…”

“…It is cultivated across 470,083 ha accounting for 400,000 tons of grain production ( FAOSTAT, 2021 ). Sorghum is cultivated for food, brewing, and feed in SSA and Asia ( Andiku et al., 2021 ). It is the primary source of dietary calories, particularly for pregnant and lactating women and pre-school children in Uganda.…”

“…Most farmers in Uganda grow unimproved sorghum varieties deficient in micronutrients such as Zn and Fe and with low yield potential. Furthermore, a lack of improved varieties and yield loss due to biotic and abiotic constraints are the major constraints to sorghum production in Uganda ( Andiku et al., 2021 ). Therefore, there is a need to develop nutrient-dense, high-yielding sorghum varieties with farmer-preferred traits in the country.…”