Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a key staple crop in semi-aridenvironments which plays a key role in alleviating hunger, ensuring foodsecurity and creating a surplus for sale, thus increasing rural householdincomes. However, the productivity of sorghum has remained low in the region.This is attributed to a host of factors including low level of technologyadoption, abiotic and biotic constraints such as drought, declining soilfertility, insects, pests, diseases and parasitic weeds. Among the constraintsmentioned above, Striga infestation and soil infertility have been identifiedas the major factors responsible for the low productivity of sorghum. They arealso considered as an increasing problem for sorghum crop production in keyproduction areas (Mbwaga et al. 1998).

A critical solution to these constraints is the use of improvedsorghum varieties, which can be used in combination with other technologieslike water harvesting and soil fertility management. For example, the use ofanimal manure and water harvesting techniques such as tie-ridging and deeptillage are considered as key to increasing sorghum productivity and householdincome in sorghum growing areas (Figure 1; Figure 2).

The experimentation process for the validation of the use ofStriga-resistant sorghum varieties with fertilizer and water harvestingtechnologies (as a farm management practice for boosting sorghum yields) wasscaled up to enhance adoption. The primary target stakeholders for the uptakeof this management practice were mainly small-scale resource poor sorghumfarmers. A total of 400 farmers (men and women) in both Iramba and Singidadistricts were involved, using farmers’ research groups. The effectiveapproaches for scaling-up have been identified as: use of farmer groups,demonstration plots and individual progressive farmers especially those trainedon integrated Striga management technologies; and production of QualityDeclared Seed (QDS). District councils from Iramba and Singida, and locallyoperating Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the project areas such asFarm Input Promotion Africa (FIPS) and World Vision projects (Kinampanda andNtinko Centres) have been potential partners in the scaling-up of themanagement practices for the sorghum crop.

Currently, farmers from research groups in Singida and Irambadistricts have moved from their demonstration plots and are now applying thetechnologies on their large fields. With farmers increasing their plot sizes,non-participants are already asking for seed. With more farmers asking forseed; there will be insufficient seed to meet the demand for scaling-upadoption of the varieties.

The major challenge is linking farmers with the sorghum market.The market for sorghum is huge, but the question of how to produce largequantities of sorghum and process good quality grain to meet the market demandis still an issue for small-scale resource-poor farmers. Beyond that, storageand transportation to the market remain some of the other critical challengesthat need to be addressed. Until these challenges are addressed; farmers stillremain sceptical about whether sorghum can one day become a rich man’s crop.

Sorghum production is traditionally practiced by farmers in thearid areas of the Central Zone of Tanzania. In terms of innovation andtechnical soundness, this crop technology is likely to appeal to end-users asit addresses a critical production problem. Striga causes severe sorghum yieldlosses. The technology can also be useful at many scales. In the context ofclimate change and food security, the technology promotes efficient use of onfarm water resources and enhances farms' resilience to drought. Sorghum being amajor staple, its increased production is expected to boost food security. Thetechnology can therefore be more impactful in the drought prone areas.

Increased demand for processed sorghum products through promotionof value added products will drive future scaling up of the crop in the region.Also continued training of farmers in the use of the technology package willencourage uptake of the technology. These increases will continue to be achievedthrough training farmers to mobilise local resources to improve soil fertilityand soil water balance in the root zones of the crop.

There are various challenges that affect further dissemination ofthis technology as well as subsequent adoption and scaling up/out. The majorchallenge is linking farmers with the sorghum market. Others include: lack ofinformation and capital, limited access to improved seed, and limited knowledgeof the technology. Lack of information and capital are some of the key constraintslimiting the adoption and scaling up of Striga resistant sorghum. Increasing participationin the market, farmer awareness of technology, and linking farmers toinformation networks such as farmer groups, farmer field schools, farmer tofarmer extension is therefore critical for future scaling up of the technology.Lessons learnt from the pilot project activities show that the best way to get the technology or innovation to reach and be used bythe largest number of users is through farmer groups and making seed readily available tofarmers.

High capital costs, however, may deter some resource constrained,yet potential end users. Establishment of soil and water conservationstructures for instance, is labor intensive and requires higher costs if one isusing hired labor. The technology also requires some investment in terms of costof the seed for the improved varieties and fertilizers. Nonetheless, applicationof the technology provides good economic returns even within a season.

This notwithstanding, the technology has strong gender inclusivityattributes as it can be applied by all gender categories. It is especiallyrelevant for women, who constitute majority of sorghum farmers. Their access toinputs and control over decisions regarding input acquisition, is critical foradoption of the technology among women. During the initial stages of scaling upthe technology, women played a central role in the decision-makingprocesses that were involved in the adoption of the technology partly becausethey were more engaged in small-scale sorghum growing than men. Because oftheir year-round presence in villages, women were more actively engaged thanmen in farmers’ groups and other social structures. This practice particularlyaddressed the context and situation of women farmers, who constitute themajority of sorghum farmers. The farm management practice was gender-neutral(Figure 3; Figure 4) and benefited all members of the communities, includingvulnerable and marginalized groups.

Cornel R Massawe;

Scientist, Agricultural Research Institute (ARI – Ilonga);

P. O. Box 33;

Kilosa, Tanzania

Tel (landline): +255 (0) 23 2623201

Mob: +255 (0) 786 611 522 / (0) 655 611 522

Fax: +255 (0) 23 2623284

Email: massawesa@yahoo.co.uk

Ambonesigwe M Mbwaga;

Managing Director, Agriseed Technologies Limited;

Tel: +255 (0)754 467284/ (0)784 401717

Email: ambwaga@gmail.com / agriseed.tech08@gmail.com

Joseph P Hella;

Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness(SUA);

PO Box 3007;

Morogoro, Tanzania.

Tel: +255 (0) 23 260 1390

Mob: +255 (0) 753 284 283 / 784 582 110/ 655 787 777

Fax: +255 (0) 23 260 1390

Email: jp_hella@yahoo.co.uk

Rodgas Ziwa;

Extension worker, Iramba District;

Iramba-Singida, Tanzania.

Mobile: +255 (0)786 515 451

Email: ziwarodgas@yahoo.co.uk

Sengo Ayub

Development Officer (DALDO),

Singida, Tanzania.

Mobile: +255 (0)754 368 147

Email: sengosua2@yahoo.co.uk

Patrick Lameck;

Extension worker, Institute Africain pour le DevelopmentEconomique et Social (INADES) Formation;

PO Box 203;

Dodoma, Tanzania.

Mobile: +255 (0) 784 773 349

There is a plan to produce a number of communication products thatwill be made readily available to stakeholders involved in the sorghumindustry. The technologies for integrated Striga management will be documentedand disseminated to stakeholders through leaflets, brochures, posters,journals, media, and DVDs. Information gathered from the marketing survey inthe target areas is being disseminated to the stakeholders through reports,workshops and the media. The stakeholders include those involved in sorghumproduction, processing, transport, and other beneficiaries in the sorghumproduction value chain. The marketing survey targeted all possible channels,from production to end-users including wholesalers, processors, the industry,consumers, exporters, those involved in the animal feed industry, and others.

[ICRISAT] International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-AridTropics. 2000. Seed systems for the new millennium: An action plan forTanzania. In: p 26–27. Proceedings of the Stakeholders’ Review and PlanningWorkshop, 7–8 December 1999, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, SADC/ICRISAT Sorghum andMillet Improvement Program.

Mbwaga, AM, Riches, CR, Lamboll, R. 1998. The Striga problem inthe Dodoma Region and the Lake Zone of Tanzania: Analysis of the problem andresearch priorities. Chatham, UK: Natural Resources Institute.

Mbwaga, AM, Riches, R, Ejeta G. 2007. Integrated Striga managementto meet sorghum demand in Tanzania. In: p 253–264, Ejeta, G, Gressel J, eds.,Integrating New Technologies for Striga Control; Towards Ending the Witch-hunt.Singapore, World Scientific.

Mbwele, AA, Lumbadia, MZ, Sichilima, NP. 2000. Seed Production andSupply system in Tanzania. In: p 20–27, Monyo, ES, Lumbadia, MZ, Saadan, HM,Mgonja, MA and Mitawa, GA, eds., Seed Systems for the New Millennium: An ActionPlan for Tanzania. Proceeding for the Stakeholders’ Review and PlanningWorkshop, 7–8 December 1999, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, SADC/ICRISAT Sorghum andMillet Improvement Program.