Chapters 5.44
5.44 -Analyzing Sonora White Wheat as a Crop for Smallholder Farmers to Combat Climate Change
Olivia Lund, University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Lund,O. (2022) Analyzing Sonora White Wheat as a Crop for Smallholder Farmers to Combat Climate Change, In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org
How Sonora White Wheat Benefits Smallholder Farmers Specifically
Many subsistence farmers only make enough food to sell for necessity and feed their families. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has had an unprecedented growth since The Green Revolution and has adopted the name “The Miracle Crop” because of its success in combating food insecurity for smallholder farms in developing countries (Shiferaw et al, 2013). Approximately 21% of world’s food is dependent on wheat products, and 81% of wheat consumed in developing countries is produced within the same country (Ortiz et al, 2008). Moving forward, however, wheat demand in developing countries is expected to increase by 60% by 2050 (Shiferaw, et al., 2013) at a time of climate change. Since its origin in Western Asia 10,000 years ago, and then cultivation by “the Eudeve peoples, who began to propagate the wheat near the rural village of Tuape, Sonora, not far from the present United States-Mexico” in 1640, White Sonora Wheat (Sonora blanca) has been shown to be one of the most adaptable crops cultivated (Slow Food, n.d.). It has potential to help smallholder farmers who are facing increasingly hot, dry conditions. Sonora wheat grain can be used for bread/flour and cereal, but is most commonly milled into flour to produce bread and tortillas (Local Harvest, n.d.). White Sonora wheat can be ground into flour by milling (either whole or cracked wheat) to use in baking recipes and breads. It has also been used as cereal, side dishes or as a replacements for rice in dishes (Wheat White Sonora, n.d.). The grain can provide a source of cash income for farmers, and furthermore, the stems/leaves can be used for livestock feed (Araya et al. 2020).
The optimal temperature for white Sonora wheat is 25 degrees Celsius, however, because of its adaptability, it can tolerate 3 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius (Curtis, 2002). Sonora wheat is highly tolerant to dry conditions, because of its long taproots and therefore can reach farther into the soils to retrieve water in dry seasons (Stephan Scott, n.d.). This is more stress adapted than typical wheats which require moderate rainfall (304-381 mm) and temperature (4-35˚C) (Ma Wen Jie, 2017). Sonora white wheat takes 90 days to reach maturity (Local Harvest, n.d.) and hence is ideal for dry climates with a limited rainy season. It grows optimally in well-drained, sandy, loamy or clay soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0 (Wheat White Sonora, n.d.). White Sonora Wheat is considered a spring wheat because it is planted in the spring and produces grain by the fall. Spring wheat is most common in countries that have mild winters such as South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East (Curtis, 2002). The grain has to be dried to below 12% moisture content before storing.
How White Sonora Wheat can Help Smallholder Farmers Combat Climate Change
Though Sonora white wheat was originally grown on the border of Sonora, Mexico, it has since been adopted by the U.S., specifically Arizona and California (Local Harvest, n.d.). In Sonora, the rainfall is less than 100 mm per year. Sonora has three typical climates: very dry, dry, and semi-dry (Sosa-Tinoco et al, 2016) which is ideal for wheat, since wheat diseases thrive in damp weather so it should be grown in low humidity. White Sonora wheat is specifically drought tolerant because of its root structure. White Sonora wheat has long taproots, as already noted, as well as smaller feeder roots which bring water and nutrients from deeper in the soil (Scott, 2018).
As parts of the world become drier, Sonora white wheat can provide both local nutrition and also income. A simple formula can be used to determine profit for farmers, involving the yield per ha, the price of wheat, fertilizer cost, cost of smallholder necessities used in production (land, labour, capital). Based on these parameters, the following formula can be used to estimate the potential profitability of Sonoran wheat grain:
Profits = (yield/ha x price of wheat)- necessities - fertilizer cost
(Derek Byerlee and Jim Longmire, 1986).
Under ideal conditions Sonora wheat can produce 6-14 seed heads per plant (Wheat White Sonora, n.d.).Using information from Oscar Valequez in Sonora, Mexico 2013, based on a yield of 6.5 tons/ha (Trigo Mexico, 2013), and a late 2020 price of 4.3k pesos per ton (Index Mundi, 2020), the revenue would be ~$1400 USD per hectare, minus seed, fertilizer, chemicals, tractor, labour and land charges.
Critical Analysis
Planting a legume during crop rotation can ensure adequate soil nitrogen (Wheat White Sonora, n.d.). Some pests that may come into contact with white Sonora wheat include birds, moths, slugs and snails. White Sonora wheat is resistant to rust and Fusarium blight, however there are some diseases to consider such as powdery mildew, smut, Stagonospora, Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus and Wheat Spindle Streak (Wheat White Sonora, n.d.).
Resources and Institutions for Smallholder Farmers
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) breeds lines of wheat for developing nations, with improved quality including resistance to stress (e.g. weather, pathogens) and improved agronomic practices (CIMMYT, 2020). CIMMYT has international field research stations, seed banks, breeders’ seed and helpful resources for smallholder farmers. Farmer organizations can obtain wheat seeds from CIMMYT (see link below).
Smallholder farmers struggle with financing. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) gives loans to support organizations that assist smallholder farmers (see further information below).
Useful resources and practical links to get started:
CIMMYT Resources: Seed Site: https://www.cimmyt.org/resources/seed-request/ Wheat Doctor: http://wheatdoctor.org/ Nutrient Management: https://www.cimmyt.org/news/precision-nutrient-management-the-future-of-nitrogen-use-efficiency/ Drought Site: https://www.cimmyt.org/tag/drought/
•Wheat School: Three Key Steps to Planting Winter Wheat by Real Agriculture - Understanding some key points regarding planting winter wheat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIqK8Uk9f2U
•International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) One specific program that is ongoing in 2020 is the Sustainable Development Project for Communities in Semiarid Areas. Smallholder farmers are part of the target group that this project can assist by supporting sustainable agricultural production. To contact IFAD, farmers can call +39-065459 or email ifad@ifad.org. You can also reach the project Sustainable Development Project Contact Francisco Javier Pichon through their website: https://www.ifad.org/en/.
•White Sonora Wheat by Underwood gardens: - Explains how White Sonora Wheat can be beneficial for smallholder farmers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-1SKJR8MWg
•White Sonora Wheat Harvest by Avalon Organic Gardens: - Understanding the harvesting process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y40u77cKvbI
References
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