[ad_1]
New initiative helps sorghum and millet farmers increase yields amid high temperatures and low rainfall
On May 11, 2016, the Dryland Cereals Improvement Project “HOPE Phase II” to increase productivity of sorghum, pearl millet and millet will be launched at the Harmony Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The project, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to help farmers in six sub-Saharan African countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda) cope with the effects of drought and reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition.
Given the severity of intermittent droughts that have plagued much of sub-Saharan Africa over the past three years, especially in eastern and southern Africa, the project will focus on promoting sorghum and millet, two crops that are naturally the most drought-tolerant of all the major staple foods. They are also considered nutrient-dense foods with a variety of health benefits, as they are high in vitamins, proteins and trace elements. For example, millet is very high in calcium (10-40 times higher than other cereals) and relatively low in energy, making it ideal for weaned children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Millet also has a low glycemic index, making it very beneficial for people with diabetes.
“These crops are drought tolerant and can give high yields even when rainfall is low, when other cereals fail. They also have a higher nutritional value compared to other crops, which means that even during droughts, affected communities can still get excellent nutrition with reduced yields,” said Dr Moses Siambi, Regional Director of ICRISAT, the lead implementing centre.
Read the full article: ICART
[ad_2]
Source link
