SUITABILITY OF SORGHUM GRAIN FOR FAMINE RESPONSE: CASE OF PHALOMBE, T/A KADUYA, SOUTHERN MALAWI

Sorghum is considered underutilized food crop in Africa and Malawi. Although it is recognized that sorghum has potential benefits to human health and its adaptability to changing climate, the grain is not accorded the research support comparable to hybrid crops. The increase in population and changing climate makes it feasible to pay attention to the future of sorghum grain to realize its benefits. The main objective of the study was to establish the extent to which sorghum grain can be suitable for famine response complement to maize grain. It included an assessment of nutritional value of sorghum and exploration of community knowledge on the use the grain. The study further involved establishing implications of sorghum as complementary food item in humanitarian response. The qualitative data collection techniques were used to obtain an understanding of the community and humanitarian actors in relation to the consideration of sorghum in response to recurrent food shortages and hunger. The techniques include; key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Focus group discussions were conducted with randomly selected VDCs in T/A Kaduya. The collected data was then analysed by thematic approach. This brought an understanding of local community knowledge on the use of sorghum and sorghum products. The key informant interviews were conducted with the Disaster management officer for Phalombe district and the VDC Chair for Kaduya area. The aim of the interviews was to understand how food response is done and therein make an inference of implication that can be brought by including sorghum in the response and relief aid. The desk study of nutritional composition of sorghum was conducted and the results revealed that sorghum has almost similar composition to other commodity grains that are used in food aid except for protein effectiveness. The study is expected to bring into light some of the factors for less recognition of sorghum grain. The results established by this study may be used in making future plans to promote sorghum and reduce recurrent food crisis.

Although it is recognized that sorghum has potential benefits to human health and its adaptability to changing climate, the grain is not accorded the research support comparable to hybrid crops. The qualitative data collection techniques were used to obtain an understanding of the community and humanitarian actors in relation to the consideration of sorghum in response to recurrent food shortages and hunger. The aim of the interviews was to understand how food response is done and therein make an inference of implication that can be brought by including sorghum in the response and relief aid. The desk study of nutritional composition of sorghum was conducted and the results revealed that sorghum has almost similar composition to other commodity grains that are used in food aid except for protein effectiveness.

Phalombe is situated in the Lake Chilwa Phalombe plain in the southern region of Malawi (FAO, 2014). The zone is very poor and food insecure with few opportunities to generate income and the main livelihood is subsistence farming on small plots of land (USAID , 2019). Rainfall ranges from 700-1000mm from OctoberMarch. The area is impacted by dry spells during key crop stages and flooding. As of 2015, a population of 120,627 was affected by hailstorm and dry spells leading to an estimate of 6-8 months food deficit that required 7,921MT of maize (MALAWI GOVERNMENT, 2015). According to FAO 2014, 65% of population in Phalombe is below the poverty line and 42% is classified as ultra-poor. The district has six Traditional Authorities (T/As) which include; Chiwalo, Jenala, Kaduya, Nkhulambe, Nazombe and Mkhumba

District: Phalombe

Coordinates: -15.6822, 35.6724