|
Striga-Resistant Sorghum
Varieties Improve Yields
Striga is a serious
parasitic weed in the lowlands of Wollo,
Ethiopia. It limits the production of
sorghum, a staple grain crop of
lowlanders. However, thanks to
intervention from the USAID AMAREW
project, use of striga-resistant
cultivars as a component of an
integrated striga management (ISM)
strategy has proved promising.
The striga-resistant
cultivars Gobiye, Abshir and Birhan
released by the Sirinka Research Center
for striga-infected fields in the Kobo
and Sirinka areas show about a
three-fold increase in yield (25-34
q/ha) as compared to control sites.
Increased use of the new varieties could
produce vastly improved yields in the
Kobo area alone. The ISM strategy
included an improved striga-resistant
cultivar, methods of fertilizer
application, and proper crop management
practices. |
|
Striga hermonthica has devastated
sorghum fields in the Wollo area of
Ethiopia, severely affecting the
livelihoods of farmers. With AMAREW
project support, the Sirinka Research
Center is engaged in identifying striga-resistant
sorghum varieties that meet farm needs.
This endeavor enabled the release of
sorghum varieties that brought renewed
hope to rural households. Varieties such
as Gobiye (shown above) are now widely
grown in farmer fields in the Kobo-Girana
valley, producing good yields despite
the threat of striga.
|
