ICRISAT Nigeria Research and Development Activities in Sorghum and Groundnut

1 June 2015

1. Testcross for identification of sterility and fertility reaction for development of hybrid parents using Nigeria sorghum Landrace

89 testcross obtained currently being assessed by scientists for sterility/fertility reaction in collaboration with National partners

2. Development of OPV Sorghum with Market and Farmer Preferred Traits

• FPVS used in selection and highest ranking lines by farmers have been submitted to the national variety testing for multi-location On-farm/Station trial in 2015 in preparation for variety release process

• Varieties are also evaluated for market preferred traits (malting, flour, local food and for poultry feeds)

3. Exploratory Sorghum landrace germplasm collections and Characterization

175 landrace collected, identified and grouped into 26 Local names with Fara-Fara and Kaura being most common. Currently being characterized 2014-2015

• On-farm Sorghum yield among 853 and 1092 collaborating farmer groups (21,325 and 27,300 farmers) in 2013 and 2014 respectively across 13 States was 1.8 t/ha, with instances of above 2.3 t/ha compared to about 1 t/ha in 2011.

• Sorghum in Poultry feed to diversify utilisation and create commercial demand.

• Weight gain by broiler chicks fed Farafara (local Variety) and ICSV 400 at 100 or 50% maize substitution level were 5 to 15% higher than those feeding on the control maize based diet

4. Crop production and Utilization

Groundnut

• Three (3) local landraces and 2 improved varieties were crossed with identified sources of resistance to rosette, foliar diseases, aflatoxin and drought tolerance.

• Some promising lines have been identified for further evaluation in MLT and FPVS trials in coming seasons

1. Improving Nigeria Groundnut Landraces for Resistance to Multiple Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

2. Capacity Building of Rural Youths and National Partners on Groundnut Seed Production and

Hybridization Technologies

3. Groundnut Production and Utilization

• Plant population: Pod yield at plant population of 133,333 plants ha-1 was 31% higher than that of 66,667 plants ha-1

• New Opportunities: Successfully introduce dry season groundnut cultivation for seed, grain and fodder

4.Mechanization of Small scale processing by women• Groundnut oil mill for women

groundnut oil processors• Hammer mill for village

cottage• Hand held cultivator for land

cultivation

5. Groundnut and Groundnut Product Quality Concerns

• Setting up of Aflatoxin detection laboratories• Training on the operation of the labs• Capacity enhance met of value chain actors on

the preventive methods for aflatoxin control