Crops

Improving post-rainy sorghum varieties to meet the growing grain and fodder demand in India

Image
different grains in different sized bags and barrels
Project code
CIM/2007/120
Program
Budget
AUD 1,596,315
Research program manager
Dr Eric Huttner
Project leader
Vincent Vadez - International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics
Commissioned organisation
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics
Duration:
JUL 2008
JUN 2018
Project status
Concluded
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Overview

This project aimed to increase the yield and resilience of farmers' dry season sorghum crop.

In south-west India many farmers grow sorghum during the post-rainy (dry) season, either for subsistence on the grain, but also to sell grain for human consumption or stover residue for cattle feed in markets. Stover has become an important part of the sorghum value chain, and crop improvement now targets dual purpose types. Water limits grain and stover yield. Plants with the stay-green (SG) trait can use soil water later in the dry season. SG has improved sorghum yield under water limited conditions.

This project aimed to transfer the SG trait into locally adapted varieties favoured by farmers.

Key partners
Department of Employment
Economic Development and Innovation
Directorate of Sorghum Research
International Livestock Research Institute
University of Queensland
Documents