International Sorghum and Millet Collaborative Research Support Program (INTSORMIL CRSP)
Date of this Version
5-1-2006
Document Type
Article
Citation
INTSORMIL Report No. 1 (May 1,2006)
Abstract
According to Lloyd Rooney, Distinguished Professor of Food Science at Texas A&M, “A consistent, high quality grain supply is the first prerequisite for the development of the food processing industry in West Africa.” The International Sorghum and Millet (INTSORMIL) Collaborative Research Support Program in West Africa is helping farmers produce a consistent supply of high quality sorghum and millet that meets the requirements of industry.
INTSORMIL’s Marketing-Processing Project, funded by USAID/WARP and directed by Botorou Ouendeba, Nigerien millet breeder and former Coordinator of the West and Central African Millet Research Network is responding to the emerging market demand by promoting the development and transfer of sorghum and millet technology that increases production to meet the needs of the food and feed processors. This involves increasing the supply of clean millet and sorghum grain so that the food industry can process food products such as steamed millet in yoghurt, couscous, arraw, degue, sankal, thiackri, and other products. A key component of this project is the strengthening of the bonds between the producers (farmers) and the animal feed and food processors.
From 1998 to 2004 consumption of chickens (see photo below from the Baobab firm in Niamey, Niger) increased from 25,000 to 50,000 daily in the West African city Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This is an indication of the demand for poultry feed in West Africa which translates to a demand for sorghum.