Sorghum and millets are important cereal food crops in Ethiopia. The productivity of these crops in Ethiopia is very low. There are several factors that contribute to low productivity of these crops in this country. These include: moistures stress, lack of adequate improved varieties and hybrids, insect pests, diseases, soil fertility degradation, weeds (including striga) and birds. To address sorghum and millet production constraints a memorandum of understanding was signed between International Sorghum and Millet (INTSORMIL) Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) and the Institute of Agricultural Research (now Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research) in 1996. Funds are secured every five year to pursue research activities and fund was secured for the second time for running the project activities in Ethiopia.

INTSORMIL conducts collaborative research on sorghum and millet through partnerships between U.S. university scientists and scientists of the national agricultural research system.

INTSORMIL/CRSP has captured most of the sorghum and millet research expertise in the United States. Universities which are still active in INTSORMIL are Kansas State University, Mississippi State University, University of Nebraska, Purdue University and Texas A&M.

Objective

To improve sorghum/millet productivity, production and utilization through collaborative research.