By Prossy Nandudu
Although the demand for millet products for baby and adult food, bakery and export is on the rise, its production remains low.
The reason, according to the head of the dry lands programme where finger millet is based, Dr Scovia Adikini, there is low adoption of the improved varieties.
The low adoption, according to Adikini, is partly due to limited funding to finger millet research which has also limited the awareness of the improved varieties.
Adikini adds that millet is one of the crop varieties that is not only resilient to climate change because it uses less water but is full of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and calcium, zinc. Some of the varieties that farmers should look out for include NAROMIL4,3,2,5 among others.
In terms of yield, she said the new varieties have the capacity to give farmers 2.5 metric tonnes from one hectare up from the current 0.7 metric tonnes currently.
The varieties are some of the crops that use less water, being exhibited at this year’s World Food Day celebrations, taking place at the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) in Mukono district.
The theme for this year’s celebration is Water is Life, Water is Food, Leave No One Behind. The theme highlights the importance of water which is fast becoming unavailable.
The event is organised by the agriculture ministry, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Food Program.
PHOTO CAPTION: New millet varieties on display at World Food Day celebrations. Photo by Prossy Nandudu
