Author(s)

Ardaly Abdou Ousseini^1,2, Mamadou Aissata Ibrahim², John Saviour Yaw Eleblu¹, Kwadwo Ofori¹, Issaka Boureima Hamani³

¹School of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Ghana, West African Centre of Crop Improvement, WACCI, Accra, Ghana.
²Département de Culture Pluviale, National Institute of Agricultural Research, INRAN, Niamey, Niger.
³Département de Recherche en Economie Rurale (DECOR), National Institute of Agricultural Research, INRAN, Niamey, Niger.

Sorghum is one of the most important cereal crops well adapted to harsh and dry environmental condition. In Niger, a dry country with limited rainfall distribution (three to four months per year), there are biotic and abiotic factors impacting sorghum cultivation. The objectives of this study were to determine production limiting factors and preferred traits of sorghum farmers in Niger. Twenty sorghum growing villages in Tahoua and Maradi region were surveyed. The villages were selected based on sorghum production volumes recorded in the various regions as documented by the National Institute of Statistics of Niger database. Limiting factors affecting sorghum cultivation which include, rainfall scarcity, water logging, midge, migratory bird, Striga, animal straying, soil fertility, non-adaptative and non-productive varieties utilization were identified. Among the factors, water scarcity and Striga impact were identified as the main sorghum limiting constraints in the two regions. Sorghum productivity is also affected by the utilization of local land race with low grain yield and is susceptible to Striga. In addition, early maturing planting and taller and high yielding Striga resistant varieties with white pericarp and good taste are preferred by farmer. Insertion of farmers’ views in the breeding process is the best improvement strategy for developing the easiest and most acceptable variety by smallholder’s farmers.

Striga, Sorghum, Participatory Rural Appraisal, Production Limiting Factors

Ousseini, A.A., Ibrahim, M.A., Eleblu, J.S.Y., Ofori, K. and Haman, I.B. (2022) Identifying Sorghum Yield Limiting Factors and Farmer’s Criteria Traits in East and Northern West Niger. Open Access Library Journal, 9, 1-17. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1109543.