Research and development partnerships for a large-scale diffusion of technologies for sorghum and millet systems in Mali

The objective of this work is to improve production systems based on sorghum and pearl millet in the Mopti and Sikasso regions of Mali, by strengthening research and development partnerships for large-scale utilization of proven technologies with potential for improving nutrition, benefiting women and children, and enhancing the sustainability of smallholder agriculture. At the farm level, the focus has been to improve production by increasing access to selected new technologies, and enhancing awareness and ‘knowhow’ for the use of existing technologies to enhance sorghum and millet production. In the Mopti and Sikasso regions of Mali, the major technologies targeted for dissemination include: i) the use of seed treatment such as Apron Star 42WS, ii) seed of improved varieties of pearl millet, sorghum (both hybrid and open pollinated varieties), groundnut and cowpea adapted to the Sahelian environmental conditions, iii) integrated Striga and soil-fertility management practices; and iv) biological control of the millet head-miner. Seed treatment of pearl millet with Apron Star significantly reduced the incidence and severity of diseases. Grain yield was 20% higher when seed was treated. Further, the practice increases yield by 39% relative to farmers’ current practice