Figure: Ms Keita Djeneba Konate, scientific officer, ICRISAT, orients on drought tolerant, aflatoxin resistant groundnut varieties. Photo: A Diama, ICRISAT

ICRISAT 04 Dec 2015 No. 1704

Improved varieties of sorghum, groundnut, vegetables, fruit and fodder trees and sustainable production technologies for improving nutrition and incomes captured the attention of visitors at an Open House organized at ICRISAT-Mali.

Prominent visitors included Mr Ajay Kumar Sharma, Indian Ambassador to the Republic of Mali, who toured the demonstration plots and the exhibit stalls that showcased the research impact of The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and ICRISAT.

ICRISAT’s demonstration plots focused on groundnut and sorghum.

The groundnut demonstration plots showcased a range of improved varieties that were tolerant to drought; and resistant to aflatoxin and foliar diseases. Varieties suitable for large-scale diffusion in Mali were also on display. The sweet sorghum demonstration plots had novel varieties that combined quality grain for human consumption with high sugar content in the stems. In addition to yielding quality grain and forage for livestock, these varieties can produce sorghum syrup, rich in calcium and vitamin C, and are a more nutritious and economical alternative to sugar.

Sorghum demonstration plots that had hybrids and their parental lines sown side by side, helped visitors to see for themselves the difference in vigor, grain quality and the 30% to 40% yield superiority of hybrids and their profitability over the parental lines and local varieties.

AVRDC demonstration plots displayed improved varieties of vegetables such as tomatoes, okra, green amaranth and amaranth pepper.

ICRAF’s nursery showcased production of seedlings of improved planting materials, food and fruit banks, fodder banks, and sustainable management of these species for intensive forage production in Mali and other countries in the Sahel region.

See more: http://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1704.htm#1