by PressNew sorghum variety to be grown in India
The new sorghum variety can withstand low temperatures
India plans to sow a new variety of sorghum as part of a research project. Production of the crop, which is resistant to low temperatures, will begin in 2025. Farmers plan to grow sorghum in the northern part of the country, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sorghum is a hardy, drought-tolerant crop traditionally grown in warm climates. However, scientists at ICRISAT and SKUAST decided to adapt the variety to harsher climatic conditions. The researchers wanted the crop to produce good yields in regions of the country where low temperatures prevail.
Project goals and food security
The basis for developing the new variety was a research project on elite sorghum varieties. It involved teams from two research institutes, ICRISAT and SKUAST. The aim of creating a new crop variety is to improve food security in India.
The researchers plan to expand the production of sorghum as a feed and fodder crop. This will address the current imbalance between supply and demand in the livestock sector, which currently faces a 40% shortage of feed. Reducing this gap will have a positive impact on the local economy.
According to ICRISAT’s Stanford Blade, the collaboration with SKUAST colleagues has expanded the scope of the study. The teams gained access to each other’s technology base and expertise, greatly accelerating the process of creating new crop varieties. The scientists hope that their development will help increase sorghum production, which is particularly important for smallholder farmers.
Role of the livestock sector
The role of the livestock sector deserves special attention:
— it is one of the critical sectors in Kashmir;
— the industry provides the required amount of animal protein;
— it offers employment to the local population.
However, the livestock sector faces a fodder shortage, especially in the highlands. Forage sorghum could be a solution for the industry. Its main advantages are:
— high yields — up to 50 tonnes per hectare;
— it provides high nutritional value;
— it can grow in local climates.
Using the new variety will improve livestock nutrition, which will have a positive impact on their productivity. In addition, the crop expansion will improve agricultural yields. This is particularly important for smallholder farmers who depend on livestock for their livelihoods.
Cultivation of the cold-resistant variety will begin in 2025. The researchers have chosen the northern regions of Kashmir for its production. Here, low temperatures prevail in the highlands.
The variety has already been extensively tested for two seasons. Scientists monitored the crop’s ripening and analysed its nutritional content. They also compared the genotypes of different varieties to select the best one for these climatic conditions.