After successful completion of this Lesson, you have learned to answer: 1.Why sorghum cultivation is important? 2.Can sorghum crop yield comparable to rice and wheat? 3.Why sorghum yields are low where this crop is important? 4.Is there a scope for sorghum farmers to increase their income and how? Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop in the world after wheat, maize, rice, and barley. World Area and Production of Major Grain Crops during 2004 Source: FAO 2004

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum Sorghum is cultivated for grain and as a major food crop in much of South Asia, Africa, and Central America. In the USA, Australia and South America, sorghum is grown mainly for animal feed. In addition to these uses of the grain, sorghum crop residues and green plants also provide sources of animal feed, building material, and fuel for cooking, particularly dry land areas.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum Sorghum is adapted to warm and dry climate but the greatest area of the crop is cultivated in drought-prone areas of the world. In these areas, sorghum is usually grown with limited inputs in conditions of sparse rainfall, low soil fertility, and face a range of disease and pest problems, with correspondingly poor yields.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum Average yields of sorghum are lower than important grain crops (Table). The lower average yields are primarily a result of the hot, dry conditions where sorghum is mostly grown, rather than sorghum plant’s capability. Source: FAO 2004

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum In fact, sorghum has high yield potential, comparable to rice, wheat and maize (House 1985). On a field basis, sorghum yields have exceeded 11,000 kg/ha, with above average yields ranging from 7000 to 9000 kg/ha where moisture is not a limiting factor. In areas where sorghum is commonly grown yields of 3000 to 4000 kg/ha are obtained under better conditions, dropping down to 300 to 1000 kg/ha as moisture and soil fertility become limiting.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum A majority of the subsistence farmers who typically cultivate this crop are unable to take advantage of high yield potential because they have limited options for improving their management practices. Sorghum production can be achieved through growing verities/hybrids with improved tolerance to drought and low soil fertility, and resistance to pests and diseases.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum It is observed that of late food habits of sorghum eating people are changing towards rice and wheat products. Perhaps this, and reduced market price for sorghum have resulted in the decline of area under sorghum cultivation (refer Module 2 of Sorghum Production Practices).

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum Naturally, the poor farmers of rainfed areas who cannot grow crops other than sorghum are economically affected as they are not getting reasonable price for sorghum in the market. However, there is hope.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Lesson 1: Importance of Sorghum Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum In addition to sorghum as a food crop, there are possibilities of other alternative uses of sorghum such as novel foods, processed foods, feed for dairy animals, and industrial uses – starch, beverages (beer) and ethanol. Thus, commercialization of alternative food, feed, and industrial products is one of the ways to increase demand for sorghum.

With this, the Lesson 1 on Importance of Sorghum in this Module concludes. In the next Lesson in this Module, you will learn briefly about the importance of sorghum diseases. Select Lesson 2 from Module I contents Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics Course on Diseases of Sorghum Module I: About Sorghum