Sorghum Production Manual

Responding to climate change and variability through drought resilient crops such as sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet is imperative. Sorghum is an important traditional grain in Zimbabwe with several uses at household level. Though sorghum is known to tolerate marginal environments compared with other cereals, production is constrained by lack of farmer-preferred varieties, quality seed as well as biotic and abiotic factors. Therefore, there is need to popularize and maximize its productivity. Lupane State University is mandated to respond to the clarion call by the Government of Zimbabwe on Education 5.0, to provide services to the community and heritage-based learning.

Therefore, this manual is timely since most farmers, extension agents, trainers and students do not have access to simplified information on how to maximize sorghum production. This manual will be useful for sorghum agronomy, pest identification and other standard production practices.

The project  “Exploring wide crosses derived crop biodiversity (sorghum x maize) for climate resilience and food and nutrition security in Eastern and Southern Africa” which is funded in the 4th call for Proposals of the Benefit Sharing Fund (BSF) of the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was invited to present its results and overall approach during the Tenth Session of the Governing Body of ITPGRFA.