A research team from SNU’s Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences has developed three new sorghum varieties adapted to Somalia’s dryland farming conditions. The varieties, designated SNU-SR01, SNU-SR02, and SNU-SR03, emerged from a four-year plant breeding programme supported by the CGIAR Research Programme on Dryland Systems.
Research Findings
Field trials across 12 sites in Hiiraan, Bay, and Bakool demonstrated that the new varieties produce 40 percent more grain per hectare than conventional local varieties under water-stress conditions. They also show 60 percent improved resistance to Striga weed, which causes substantial crop losses across Somalia’s dryland belt. Trials also recorded earlier maturity – 85 days versus 110 days for conventional varieties – allowing harvest before peak dry-season drought risk.
Methodology
The breeding programme used conventional cross-breeding combined with marker-assisted selection to accelerate drought-tolerant trait development. No GMOs were used. All three varieties are open-pollinated, so farmers can save and replant seed without purchasing proprietary inputs.
Impact and Dissemination
SNU is partnering with the Somali Ministry of Agriculture, FAO, and local agricultural cooperatives to distribute certified seed to 5,000 smallholder farmers in the coming growing season. Farmer training on variety management and post-harvest handling is scheduled for June-July 2026 across all three regions. Lead researcher Dr. Caasho Axmed Xirsi presented findings at the African Plant Breeders Conference in Nairobi, April 2026. The full paper is submitted to the African Journal of Agricultural Research.