Submitter: ICRISAT
ICRISAT, in collaboration with NARES partners, developed and released the following high-yielding micronutrient dense dwarf sorghum varieties that enhances security visibility where cultivation of tall sorghum varieties are banned by security agencies in the insurgency challenged areas; SAMSORG 52, SAMSORG 53 and SAMSORG 54. These varieties offer opportunity to both farmers and security agencies, improve income, nutrition, and livelihoods by significantly enhancing Security visibility wherein the height is reduced to < 1m
Released in 2023, SAMSORG 52 in particular, is an improved, dwarf sorghum variety developed in Nigeria by ICRISAT in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Samaru. Its drought tolerant, disease resistance, high grain yield (3.8 t/ha), early maturity (85-90 days) and micronutrient dense grain (--Fe 55.0ppm) can be intercropped with other crops such as millet and maize . Machine harvesting friendly reduces drudgery and postharvest losses.
Dry-land Cultivation: SAMSORG 52 is a drought-tolerant variety, making it well-suited for the dry-land agricultural systems found in the northern parts of Nigeria.
Intercropping: It is an early-maturing, short-statured variety that can be intercropped with other crops like cowpea, aligning with the local farming systems in the region.
Dwarf sorghum (drought-tolerant, agro-ecological, resistant, and farmer-preferred) varieties improve food security and income for smallholder farmers in Nigeria by increasing grain and fodder yields, resisting drought, and providing better nutrition. Evidence shows these varieties yield higher than local ones and are preferred by farmers for traits like drought and pest resistance, helping to reduce food insecurity in a nation with a significant sorghum production base.
The adoption of both improved sorghum varieties and good agronomic practices led to a 56 and 102% increase in sorghum yield, respectively, and an 88 and 82% increase in net revenue, respectively. Furthermore, to ensure farmer access to high-quality seeds there is a supportive program, from National Agricultural seed council (NASC) on Community-based seed production systems (CBSP) which ICRISAT and HarvestPlus are facilitating Early Generation Seed (EGS) production for certified seed production. There is a growing demand for SAMSORG 52 in other states such as Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Yobe, which suggests its adaptability and potential to be grown in those areas as well.
