By Lydia Nabwire
As the world grapples with effects of climate change with its devastating impact on food security, scientists have come together to avail weather resilient food crops so that people can sail through the harsh times.
Scientists and researchers from Uganda, China, Kenya, Tanzania and Sudan, on Tuesday (February 04) gathered at Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI) head office in Mukono to do an annual review for an innovative sweet sorghum hybrid project which is being piloted in selected countries of Africa and Uganda being the host.
The gathering brought together leading agricultural researchers and institutions from across Africa and China, marking a new chapter in climate-smart agriculture.
Dr Clet Wandui Masiga, the executive director of TRIDI, set an ambitious tone for the meeting during his opening address.
“Uganda’s position as a hub for agricultural innovation is being strengthened through these international collaborations such as China-Africa agricultural cooperation,” Masiga noted.
Beyond his role as host and executive director, Masiga leads crucial research focused on the evaluation, characterisation, and introgression of adaptable traits into the introduced sorghum lines.
Together with Prof. Abdalla Mohamed, he is spearheading groundbreaking genomics work to identify and introduce Striga-resistant genes into sorghum varieties, a development that could revolutionise sorghum farming across Africa.
The Chinese partnership, spearheaded by Prof. Hai-Chun Jing from the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been transformative for the project.
“Our commitment to Africa goes beyond merely providing technologies,” Prof. Jing explained.
“We are ensuring that African institutions have access to cutting-edge solutions for measuring sugar content in sorghum and alcohol production. Through our collaborations, we are building sustainable pathways for technology transfer that will benefit generations of African farmers.”
Dr Sylvester Anami, leading the project from the Institute of Biotechnology Research at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, has been orchestrating this complex international collaboration with remarkable success.
The project aims to reach 10,000 resource-poor farmers, including 4,000 women farmers, across participating countries.
His team’s work ensures that scientific innovation translates into practical benefits for farmers across the region.
In Sudan, Prof. Abdalla Mohamed’s work at the Agricultural Research Corporation has been groundbreaking.
As the renowned “grandfather of Sorghum in Africa,” his expertise has been instrumental in evaluating sweet sorghum materials and enhancing their genetic makeup through the introduction of Striga-resistant genes.
His leadership in genomics work, in collaboration with Dr. Masiga, is pushing the boundaries of sorghum improvement across the continent.
Dr. Ronald Kakeeto’s work at Uganda’s National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute, has focused on optimising hybrid performance in challenging environments.
His team’s research is particularly crucial for regions facing increasing climate stress, ensuring that new varieties meet the needs of farmers in marginal areas while providing opportunities for value addition.
In Tanzania, Dr Eliud Francis Kongola of the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, is leading the evaluation of hybrid sweet sorghum varieties, ensuring they meet local agricultural conditions and contribute effectively to Tanzania’s socio-economic development.
His work focuses on facilitating the release of these improved varieties to benefit local farmers and enhance food security in the region.
The project’s comprehensive approach encompasses multiple dimensions of agricultural development. Enhanced food security stands at the forefront, with new varieties offering improved yields and nutrition.
Economic empowerment follows through value-addition opportunities, including the production of food products, animal feed, and ethanol.
Social impact receives particular attention, with specific programmes targeting women farmers and youth engagement in agribusiness.
TRIDI’s commercialisation strategy envisions state-of-the-art processing centres, robust supply chains, and comprehensive farmer support programmes.
“This is not just about introducing new varieties,” Masiga explained.
“We are creating an entire ecosystem that supports sustainable agricultural development.”
The institute’s readiness to scale up to 1,000+ acres demonstrates the commercial viability of these innovations.
Alliance of International Science Organisations (ANSO) is currently offering funding support that has made this project possible. The Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and particularly Prof. Jing, deserve profound gratitude for their role in technology development and facilitating access to Chinese funding through ANSO.
As the project enters its second year, plans are underway to scale up sweet sorghum production, establish micro-distilleries, and strengthen value chains. This international collaboration demonstrates the power of unified effort in addressing climate change and food security challenges in Africa.
Looking ahead, project leaders emphasise the need for expanded research funding to generate comprehensive data for a variety of release and adoption. This includes detailed trials across different agro-ecological zones, nutritional analysis, and assessment of processing qualities.
The initiative’s success thus far has attracted significant interest from private sector players and government agencies across participating countries.
About the Project: This initiative represents a landmark collaboration between African research institutions and Chinese agricultural expertise, funded by ANSO, demonstrating the power of international cooperation in addressing climate change and food security challenges in Africa.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Dr Sylvester Anami, leading the project from the Institute of Biotechnology Research at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Dr Clet Wandui Masiga, the executive director of TRIDI, Prof. Hai-Chun Jing from the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences and other TRIDI staff after the meeting.
