ICRISAT initiative to end fodder shortage in Jamica

ICRISAT has partnered with CPSO and SEPROD to introduce superior forage and dual-purpose sorghum in Jamaica. The project aims to address fodder shortages, improve livestock yields, enhance climate resilience, and cut CARICOM’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030

Sangareddy: The world’s premier institute for dryland agriculture and a globally acclaimed research centre, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has brought its frontier science to Jamaica through a partnership with the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) and SEPROD, the region’s largest food and FMCG distributor.

Backed by ICRISAT’s global expertise, the project will fast-track the development of superior forage and dual-purpose sorghum varieties in Jamaica to address fodder shortages, enhance livestock yields, and improve climate resilience. The initiative aims to strengthen food and feed security and help cut CARICOM’s US$6 billion food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030.

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Applauding the collaboration, Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Himanshu Pathak, said that with CPSO’s visionary leadership in convening this partnership and SEPROD’s drive to champion its success, ICRISAT is proud to bring advanced agricultural innovation to CARICOM, complementing local expertise.

“ICRISAT is part of the CGIAR system and committed to sharing frontier science that delivers strong economic and social returns. We look forward to making a lasting impact across the region through this initiative,” said Dr Pathak.

Jamaica currently faces a 20–30 per cent forage shortage, contributing to low milk yields below the break-even threshold of 12 litres per cow per day. This shortage highlights the challenges in the agricultural sector, particularly in providing adequate fodder for livestock.

Forage sorghum, alongside silage technologies, emerged as a powerful solution to improve animal health, boost milk production, and reduce costly imports of feed.

Lead ICRISAT Project and Principal Investigator, Dr Ephrem Habyarimana, said that with the right varieties and crop management, sorghum can strengthen food and feed systems and, by extension, improve diets, animal husbandry, and well-being across the Caribbean, offering transformative benefits for the region.