Description

Sorghum is a major cereal grain in Mozambique but due to a lack of seed and poor distribution of improved varieties, most farmers are utilizing sorghums that have low productivity potential. INTSORMIL scientists and the National Agrarian Research Institute (IIAM), along with NGOs, international programs and Mozambican national programs are collaborating to introduce new germplasms, promote seed production and commercialization and to supply seeds to small household farmers for food production. INTSORMIL was awarded a ‘Capacity Building in Research and Extension’ grant by USAID/Mozambique in 2001 for the training of national scientists at US Universities. 10 scientists have received training thus far, and these scientists have returned to Mozambique to conduct collaborative research with INTSORMIL in sorghum breeding, plant pathology, entomology, soil fertility, plant physiology and agricultural economics/marketing. Their expertise is vital to achieving food security in Mozambique.