Addis Ababa, 23 November, 2015 (WIC) – The Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) said it has released improved and drought resistant species of sorghum and millet.
Crop research Director with the Institute, Dr Asnake Fikere told WIC that the Institute has given out improved sorghum and pea species for beneficiaries from the Melkasa agricultural research center.
According to Dr Asnake, the newly introduced sorghum and millet species are drought resistant and fast growing crops with high potential to resist the recent Eli Nino impacts.
Particularly, the newly improved sorghum species with the capacity to give 40 to 50 quintals of sorghum per hectare far exceeds the previous species in terms of productivity, he added.
The institute has confirmed the effectiveness of the new species of sorghum and millet through pilot project practices in the farmlands and farmers of west Harerge, Dr Asnake noted. Remnants of the crops are used for animal fodder, house building and other household functions, he underscore.
The Institute has planned to strengthen agricultural research activities on natural resource development targeting to reduce impact of climate change further, Dr Asnake indicated.
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) aims to focus on agricultural research activities of industrial inputs that enable to increase agricultural productivity at the national level in the future , he reiterated.