Uganda: Food Security - Uganda Looks to Chinese Millet

After 18 months of trials on Foxtail millet growth in Uganda, the ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) plans to roll out the hybrid variety to farmers later this year.

The Observer has learnt that a team of Ugandan and Chinese researchers reported successful results from their trials conducted at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research Institute.

"It's not drought-resistant but tolerant to harsh dry conditions if you provide enough moisture for only two months," says Peter Lusembo, the director of the institute and leader of the local research team on Foxtail millet.

According to researchers, Foxtail millet yields up to 2.5 tonnes per hectare, compared to 1.5 tonnes for local millet varieties. If given maximum moisture (water) for two months, Foxtail millet is ready for harvest in three months, meaning farmers can grow it four times a year. Local millet varieties take up to 123 days (four months).

A bending tip that bears the grains makes it difficult for birds to eat Foxtail millet - another advantage over local varieties. Chinese expert Wei Kun Wu, attached to Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research Institute, says Foxtail millet doesn't require costly artificial fertilisers.

"Only manure is needed, which every Ugandan farmer should be able to provide," Wu explains.

Dr Okaasai Opolot, the director for crops in the ministry of Agriculture, says Foxtail millet has become one of Uganda's "short-term answers" to food insecurity. The ministry recently procured 50 kilogrammes of Foxtail millet seed from China as the first step in a bid to roll it out countrywide.

According to Opolot, once the consignment, which he expects before the end of this year, is delivered, the ministry will send it to different regions to study the changes in different ecological situations.

Apart from boosting Uganda's food security, Opolot says Foxtail millet has high starch content, which the Chinese want to import if local farmers can produce as much. Opolot adds that Foxtail millet waste (husks) can be used to make animal feeds, and it also has been successfully tested as ideal for making local brew, commonly known as malwa/ajon.

During a recent tour of the research project at the Mukono-based institute, the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhao Yali, said Foxtail millet made highly nutritious porridge.

"If cooked the Chinese way (grains cooked in water and no sugar), you get very good porridge highly recommended for new mothers and the whole family. It's commonly taken at breakfast and after dinner in Beijing," the Chinese diplomat explained.

As part of the South-South Cooperation (SSC), a United Nations-initiated platform for developing nations to exchange resources, technology, and knowledge amongst themselves, Chinese experts were posted to the Mukono institute to work with Ugandans to develop the agronomy and utilisation of Foxtail millet.

The joint project, which includes others in Masindi (maize) and Kabale (apples), is funded to a tune of $1.5m under the SSC partnership with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Chinese and Uganda governments.

"Let the Ugandan farmers access some of these (Chinese) varieties so that we can expand this method of using improved seeds to promote food security," Ambassador Zhao said.

However, officials on an assessment trip recently learnt that a communication barrier between Chinese experts and Ugandan researchers slows the pace of work. Most of the Chinese experts barely speak English, and very few Ugandans understand or speak Chinese.

But Opolot remains optimistic.

"They are involved in practical research trials, not theories so they can explain and demonstrate a process to their counterparts," Opolot says, admitting that work takes more time, though.

He adds that Chinese experts will help MAAIF change the "attitudes of our young researchers" with their hands-on approach.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307220777.html

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