High-yielding sorghum with grain yield between 1.8 to 2 t/ha and dry fodder yield of 7 to 12t/ha and biofortified pearl millet with yield potential of up to 1.2 to 1.5 t/ha captured the attention of farmers and seed producers from six villages at a farmers’ field day held at Wakoro village in Dioïla region of Mali. These early-maturing varieties and hybrids tolerant to drought and Striga infestation exhibited up to 50% yield advantage compared to the local checks.
Several projects implemented by ICRISAT and partners are helping smallholder farmers achieve food self-sufficiency and better nutrition in the region of Dioïla. The ESPHYV project funded by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Networking4Seed (N4S), funded by the McKnight Foundation in partnership with ICRISAT and the Union Locale des Producteurs de Céréales (ULPC) of Dioïla has enhanced the adoption of new technologies in over 20 communes in the Dioïla region.