International Sorghum and Millet Collaborative Research Support Program (INTSORMIL CRSP)
Date of this Version
4-2002
Document Type
Article
Citation
2002 INTSORMIL,
Abstract
Sorghum and pearl millet are the most important cereal crops in West Africa where they provide 70% of total cereal production that provide the major complements in the diets of people in the region. Research progress in the improvement of sorghum and millet is, therefore, of vital importance to the well being of people in West Africa. The Hybrid Sorghum and Pearl Millet Seed Workshop in West Africa is the culmination of the research and development effort by the Institut National de Recherches Agronomiques du Niger (INRAN) , the International Sorghum and Millet Collaborative Research Support Program (INTSORMIL), and the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (lCRISAT) during the last 10 years.
The workshop served as a forum for documenting experience gained in the development, release, and diffusion of NAD-l as the first commercial sorghum hybrid in Niger. It marked a significant milestone in the history of agriculture for Niger and possibly for West Africa. The workshop brought together sorghum scientists from throughout Africa, the United States, India, and Europe. Mr. B.R. Barwale, the 1998 recipient of the World Food Prize who is credited for laying the foundation of the seed industry in India also attended the meeting and shared his experience with a paper entitled "Hybrid Seed Experiences in Developing Countries".