Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 71: 5786 - 5799 Published November 30, 2013.
The potential role of sorghum in enhancing food security in semi-arid eastern Kenya: A review.
Riziki Mwadalu a and Maina Mwangi baDepartment of Agricultural Resource Management & bDepartment of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, P.O BOX, 43844 -00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding author: zikiemwa@gmail.com ; Telephone: +254727555260
Original submitted in on 12th July 2013 Published online at www.m.elewa.org on 30th November 2013.
ABSTRACT
Successive
droughts in Kenya compounded with other socio-economic constraints have
led to persistently unstable and declining agricultural productivity in
semi-arid eastern Kenya. This has given rise to the need to find coping
strategies that would include growing alternative crops that are
drought tolerant and thus suitable for the areas. Research in Kenya and
elsewhere has shown that sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) has the
potential to end severe food insecurity in ASALs due to its tolerance
to drought and ability to thrive under a wide range of soils. However,
research and government policy in Kenya have shown a continual
inclination to maize production in these areas though the crop is
regarded a high risk option due to poor adaptation especially to the
low rainfall. This paper reviews the potential of sorghum for improving
food security in ASALs of Kenya with specific focus on semi-arid
eastern Kenya. This will contribute to the ongoing debate to inform
private and public sector policy and investments for increasing
production of sorghum and other drought tolerant crops in the ASALs as
a way of alleviating food insecurity and poverty.
Key words: ASALs, drought, sorghum, food security, poverty
Key words: ASALs, drought, sorghum, food security, poverty
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE]
