Farmers introduced to new sorghum variety

Dorado, a new sorghum variety with a shorter maturity period, has been introduced to farmers in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region.

With a maturity period of between 90 and 110 days, the high-yielding new sorghum crop variety is said to be of the specification of Guinness Ghana Limited in terms of quality, thus the availability of market for it.

Dorado could be used to brew beer and the local pito among other uses.

Alhaji Mahama Dangana, Babile Agricultural Station Manager, during a Farmers’ Field Day at Passe, explained that the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAP) engaged the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to breed the crop.

After breeding, the crop was then multiplied by the Babile Agricultural Station for onward dissemination to farmers for trial and, the subsequent, adoption for large scale production, he said.

Alhaji Dangana noted that the field day was, therefore, to introduce farmers to the crop, which they were expected to farm to increase their incomes because there was high market for it.

He said the Upper West Region was at a comparative advantage in terms of the required temperature and rainfall for the production of the crop.

The Babile Station Manager said farmers could integrate the production of the crop with livestock rearing since the stock and residue could be used to feed the animals.

Mr. Kwesi Wih, the Upper West Regional Plant Protection Officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, noted there was the need to develop crop varieties that could withstand the harsh weather conditions resulting from climate change.

Mr. Abaabasa Oli-naa, the Assembly man for the Dorimon Electoral Area, thanked WAAPP, CSIR, Babile Agricultural Station, and the Wa West District Assembly Department of Agriculture, for their effort in bringing the project to the District.

He appealed to the farmers to learn everything about the production of the crop so that they would follow strictly the right procedures to increase their yields and make more income to cater for their families.

Mr. Dinguniba Tipagra, the lead farmer, acknowledged that there was less stress involved with the production of the new sorghum crop variety, which was also high yielding.