The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) started an initiative to fight Striga. This parasitic weed severely reduces crop yields, especially in legumes and cereals. The project aims to develop new crop varieties that can resist the weed.
Striga, known scientifically as Striga hermonthica, is a major threat to food production. It affects staple crops like maize and sorghum across sub-Saharan Africa. Farmers in Ghana, where cereals are crucial for food security, experience large yield losses because of this weed.
This initiative fits into Ghana’s broader economic need to boost agricultural productivity. Agriculture employs a significant portion of the workforce and contributes substantially to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Reducing crop losses from pests like Striga can directly improve farmer incomes and national food reserves. This project addresses a key challenge in Ghana’s drive for sustainable agricultural development and economic stability, complementing efforts to reduce reliance on food imports.
Dr. Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur leads the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre. She stated that the agency is using advanced plant breeding techniques. They are developing sorghum varieties that can resist the parasite. “We are doing mutation breeding to improve sorghum genotypes for addressing the menace of Striga hermantica,” she explained. This scientific approach creates genetic changes in crops to find desirable traits, such as resistance to diseases and pests.
Severe infestations of Striga can cause crop losses of up to 100 percent. This makes it one of the most damaging obstacles to agricultural output in affected areas. The research team uses physical mutagenesis to find genes that give resistance to the weed. They then put these traits into improved sorghum lines. Dr. Bhatnagar-Mathur noted that scientists have already found promising genetic materials. They are now multiplying these materials for future testing.
“We have identified some of the genes that are responsible for resistance to Striga hermantica,” she said. “Now we are multiplying the material for future testing in multi-location trials with our African counterparts.” These trials will test the new sorghum varieties under real farm conditions. They will also check performance in different ecological settings across Africa. Seed multiplication is ongoing, and experimental field testing could start next year.
If successful, this initiative will give farmers in Ghana and beyond more resilient sorghum varieties. It will improve yields and strengthen food security. This will reduce the significant losses caused by the ongoing agricultural threat. The project’s success could mean better livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers and a more stable food supply for the region. It underscores the importance of scientific innovation in tackling persistent agricultural challenges to ensure sustained economic growth and social well-being.