Review Article

African Orphan Crops under Abiotic Stresses: Challenges and Opportunities

Table 5

Selected projects focused on tackling diverse types of abiotic stresses in Africa. STRASA: Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia; DTMA: Drought-Tolerant Maize for Africa; FARMD: Forum for Agricultural Risk Management in Development.

NameCropsAbiotic stress targetedAfrican country of focusAchievement/improved varietiesReference

STRASARiceDroughtBurundi, Guinea Conakry, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria & Sierra Leone20 varieties [57]
SubmergenceMali2 varieties
SalinityGambia & Sierra Leone6 varieties
ColdBurundi, Madagascar & Mali7 varieties
Iron toxicitySierra Leone1 variety

DTMAMaizeDroughtAngola, Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & ZimbabweImproved drought-tolerant maize varieties[58]

Feed the Future Innovation LabsBeansDrought & heatMalawi, Mozambique, Tanzania & Zambia [59]
ChickpeaEthiopia
CowpeaDroughtBurkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria & Senegal
MilletDrought & heatMali & Nigeria
SorghumDrought & heatEthiopia, Kenya, Mali & South Africa