In News
- Recently, Researchers have identified genes in Africa’s local food crops that can improve resistance to drought.
About Orphan crops
- Meaning:
- Orphan crops are nutritious local food crops that could play a crucial role in combating hunger.
- These crops are not traded internationally but have adapted themselves to grow in harsh weather conditions.
- Crops:
- Orphan crops like finger millets, little millet; African yam bean, jojoba and jatropha are commonly found in the continent.
Significance
- Climate change
- It is a solution to growing concerns of climate change hampering crop productivity.
- It had identified genes that were high temperature tolerant, had increased salinity adaptability and had low water requirements that provided essential nutrition.
- Improve crop yield
- Incorporating these genes through hybridisation might improve crop yield that is affected by increasing global temperatures and heatwaves.
- Tackling Heatwaves
- Countries like India and Pakistan are also likely to be affected by the prolonged heat waves.
- Role of Africa
- Africa is estimated to help meet 25 percent of the world population’s food needs by 2050.
Source: DTE
