Vitamin A fortified sorghum released by researchers

A sorghum research initiative involving two Nigerian organisations – NABDA and the Institute of Agricultural Research, Zaria (IAR) – has achieved the major breakthrough of increasing levels of vitamin A in sorghum.NABDA’s acting Director-General Professor Lucy Ogbadu, who disclosed this in a statement, said the fortification of sorghum would go a long way in reducing […]

A sorghum research initiative involving two Nigerian organisations – NABDA and the Institute of Agricultural Research, Zaria (IAR) – has achieved the major breakthrough of increasing levels of vitamin A in sorghum.
NABDA’s acting Director-General Professor Lucy Ogbadu, who disclosed this in a statement, said the fortification of sorghum would go a long way in reducing hunger in the country.
“The importance of sorghum in Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised.  As an important staple and principal source of energy, the breakthrough in increasing and stabilising vitamin A hold promise for millions of rural resource-poor people,” the statement read in part.
Prof  Ogbadu was quoted in the statement as saying that vitamin A deficiency is responsible for death of over 600,000 children annually, adding that vitamin A fortified sorghum would prevent these deaths.
“The achievement of enhancing both the quantity and stability of pro-vitamin A in sorghum marks a critical advancement in ensuring local farmers cannot only grow more food, but more nutritious food,” she said.