MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES OF SORGHUM (SORGHUM BICOLOR (L.) MOENCH) BREEDING AND PRODUCTION IN SOUTHWESTERN PART OF ETHIOPIA-REVIEW ARTICLE

Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, Poaceaea family] 2n = 20) is the 5th most important
cereal crop and is the dietary staple of more than 500 million people in 30 countries. In
Ethiopia, sorghum is the third largest cereal crop in area coverage and total production
preceded by tef and maize. In Ethiopia, South and South-western part of Ethiopia was one of
major coffee growing regions and have climatic and edaphic factors that combine well to
meet the requirements of both coffee and cereals. In collaboration with sorghum
improvement program, Jimma research center was conducting different sorghum experiments
at Omonada, Kersa,Yem special wereda and Shebe sombo to identify adaptable technologies
for agro-ecologies of south-western part of Ethiopia. Jimma research center conducted
adaptable and high yielding technologies for mid altitude and lowland areas of south-western
part of Ethiopia. Major challenging factors for sorghum improvements were lack of varieties
with specific trait and adaptatibility, diseases and insects‟ threat, drought and limited
availability of quality seed and instability of researchers, dieases, weeds and birds were major
breeding and production threat of south-western Ethiopia.