International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
Abstract
Successful development of appropriate improved crop cultivars paves the way for their adoption by
farmers. Adoption of improved cultivars is a necessary precondition for plant breeding creating
favorable impacts on farm households. Impacts may be obtained through yield increases, quality
improvement, reduction in unit cost of production and reduced production risks. This chapter is a
compilation of information about the level of adoption of improved sorghum cultivars and factors
influencing it.
Adoption of improved sorghum cultivars was measured as a percentage of improved sorghum area
in the total sorghum area. Based on their origin, adoption levels of improved sorghum cultivars were
divided into four groups: (i) percentage of area sown to ICRISAT-bred cultivars; (ii) percentage of area
sown to cultivars having ICRISAT parents; (iii) percentage of area sown to ICRISAT network cultivars;
and (iv) percentage of area sown to non-ICRISAT (other) cultivars
