# Development of dual-purpose sorghum in Mali provide agroecological intensification of livestock farming

Mohamed Doumbia, Michel Vaksmann, Aliou Sissoko, Mahamadou Diakité, Korothimi Thera, Salifou Sissoko, Niaba Témé, Mohamed Lamine Tekete, Ankounidjou Yebedié, Sekouba Sanogo, et al.

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## To cite this version:

Mohamed Doumbia, Michel Vaksmann, Aliou Sissoko, Mahamadou Diakité, Korothimi Thera, et al.. Development of dual-purpose sorghum in Mali provide agroecological intensification of livestock farming. Sorghum in the 21st Century, Global Sorghum Conference, CIRAD; Kansas State University; Sorghum International Development; IRD; CERAAS, Jun 2023, Montpellier, France. pp.270. hal-05181970

HAL Id: hal-05181970

https://hal.science/hal-05181970v1

Submitted on 23 Jul 2025

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Development of dual-purpose sorghum in Mali provide agroecological intensification of livestock farming

Mohamed Doumbia<fnref n="1" />, ² (masmaom@yahoo.fr), Michel Vaksmann³, ⁴, Aliou Sissoko⁵, Mahamadou Diakité⁵, Korotimi Théra⁶, Salifou Sissoko⁵, Niaba Témé⁶, Mohamed Lamine Tékété⁶, Ankounidjou Yebedié⁶, Sékouba Sanogo⁵, Sayon Kamissoko⁵, Abdouramane Yoroté⁵, Alfousseiny Maiga⁷, Brahima Bereté⁶, Moussa Karembe⁸, Harouna Coulibaly⁹

**Context:** Rural community land saturation and intensive livestock farming lead to new fodder demands no longer satisfied by the current systems. Livestock and crop farmers satisfy currently their fodder demand by growing maize which is rapidly expanding over traditional cereals resulting in a significant agricultural biodiversity decline. Breeding innovative novel double purpose sorghum varieties sorghum will help develop value chains around fodder production. This new fodder will bear a positive impact on farmers' incomes, particularly around urban centers where fodder shortages are a brake on intensive cattle farming.

**Material and Method:** Sorghum varieties with improved fodder quality and higher biomass yield, integrating the bmr gene (better digestibility) were developed. Phenology and above ground biomass establishment were carried out to calibrate crop models to predict novel varieties adaptation. Feeding value was determined using near-infrared spectroscopy while productivity was confirmed through a multi-location trial network.

**Results and Discussion:** Similar to landraces, new varieties, sensitive to photoperiod, adjust maturity according to the end of rainy season. Photoperiodic varieties are therefore naturally adapted to climate variability, which is the main expected effect of climate change. Biomass produced by new sorghum varieties exceeds that of maize. Using dwarf plants or late planting increases stover quality but also reduces biomass production while bmr trait introgression allows us to reduce stem lignin content without affecting yield potential. Many traits inherited from landraces (photoperiod, tillering, plant height and grain quality) that have long often been overlooked are now important stakes in breeding programs. Sorghum is known for its good water and mineral use efficiency, but crop models must be adapted to specific case of photoperiodic sorghums.

**Conclusion:** This research, which reconciles science and local knowledge, will lead to the co-construction with farmers of new cropping systems compatible with an agro-ecological intensification fodder production.

<footnote n="1">¹ LABOSEP, Institut d'Economie Rurale, Bamako, Non applicable, Mali ; ² Ecole doctorale des sciences et technologies du Mali, Bamako, Mali ; ³ BIOS UMR AGAP, Cirad, Montpellier, France ; ⁴ Cirad, AGAP Institut, Montpellier, France ; ⁵ LABOSEP, Institut d'Economie Rurale, Bamako, Mali ; ⁶ Biotechnology Lab., Institut d'Economie Rurale, Bamako, Mali ; ⁷ Sorghum program, Institut d'Economie Rurale, Bamako, Mali ; ⁸ Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako, Bamako, Mali ; ⁹ CRRA Sotuba, Institut d'Economie Rurale, Bamako, Mali</footnote>