Gardeners will know the benefits of transplanting seedlings from nursery beds into their final growning positions, a long practised technique for many vegetable species. This is also  traditional practice amongst some cereal farmers around Lake Chad, as well as Nigeria and Vietnam. Its application in the production of sorghum and pearl millet in some semi arid regions of Africa has been shown to be benefical in overcoming the effects of unpredictable rainfall patterns.

Small-scale subsistence farmers practicing rainfed farming in some semi-arid regions experience poor yield stability and regularly risk total crop failure due to erratic and unreliable rainfall. The first rains are often insufficient to support early growth resulting in patchy stands or complete crop failure. Re-sowing is freqently necessary and the foreshortened season may not be long enough for the crop to reach maturity.

In a series of trials conducted by CAZS- Natural Resources, Bangor University from 2001-2005  in Zimbabwe and Ghana, the possibility of transplanting sorghum and pearl millet at the start of the rains from pre-season nurseries to reduce the growing period in the field and improve crop stands, was tested as a method to combat such problems. Results from over 200 on-farm trials over four seasons show that transplanting sorghum and pearl millet can reduce the time to maturity in the field by up to two weeks and increase grain yields significantly.

In 2007, the introduction of the technique under a FAO Emergency Unit Project, with technical assistance from AA International Ltd, in Anseba and Gash-Barka Regions in Eritrea produced similar results.Transplanting sorghum and pearl millet offers a workable and sustainable option for smallholder farmers with erratic and unreliable rainfall, now increasingly exacerbated by climate –change, to improve production with no external inputs and by so doing improve their own and possibly their near neighbours’ food security.

1. You can download a booklet describing the successful application of the techique in Ghana and Zimbabawe; 'Transplanting Sorghum and Millet - a Key to Risk Management' here.  Transplanting 11.66 Mb This is a large file!

2. 'Technical Guidelines for Transplanting Sorghum and Pearl Millet' can also be downloaded. Technical_guide_transplanting 2.04 Mb This is a large file! 

3. Alternatively, both documents may be obtained free of charge if you contact us.