Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
Gramineae family, closely related to maize
Predominantly self-pollinating, 2X, 2n=20, 1C=735Mbp
5 th most important cereal crop
Grown on 44 million ha in 99 countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas
Major producers are the USA, India, Nigeria, China, Mexico, Sudan and Argentina
The crop occupies 25% or more of arable land in Mauritania, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Somalia and Yemen, and >10% of this area in Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Tanzania and Mozambique.
For direct human use (>55%), grain is mostly consumed in the form of flat breads and porridges (thick or thin); stover is an important source of dry season maintenance rations for livestock, especially in Asia; also an important feed grain (33%), especially in the Americas
In India:
Grown on 9.2M ha (21% world's sorghum area), 5.0M ha in rainy ( kharif ) season and 4.2M ha in postrainy ( rabi ) season
Rainy season area and production have declined substantially from 11.2M ha (5.6M tons) in 1964/65 to 4.7M ha (4.5M tons) in 2002/03, while postrainy season area and production have also declined from 6.8M ha (4.0 M tons) in 1964/65 to 5.0M ha (2.9M tons) in 2002/03
Rainy season productivity has increased by nearly 100% during the same period (from 500 kg/ha to 960 kg/ha) while postrainy season productivity has been stagnant (590 kg/ha)
Productivity average is 1000 kg/ha in the rainy season and 600 kg/ha in the postrainy season
Productivity in Andhra Pradesh is 1000 kg/ha
Domestic consumption projected at 6M tons
Area, Production, Productivity
Sorghum is the fifth most important crop in the world. It is a staple food crop of millions of poor in semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia. It has gained increasing importance as a fodder (green/dry) and feed crop in the last decade.
Asia
Sorghum area in Asia decreased continuously from 23 m ha to 11 m ha between the early 1970's and 2003 (Figure 1). In contrast, sorghum area in India remained constant at 16 m ha between the early 1970's to the early 1980's but steeply declined thereafter to 10 m ha by 2003 (Figure 2).
In Asia, the production increased from 19 m t in the early 1970's to 21 m t in the late 1970's, but slightly decreased thereafter till 2003 (Figure 1). However, in India, the production level, which increased from 9 m t in the early 1970's to 12 m t in the early 1980's, was almost maintained at this level over a decade until the early 1990s, followed by a steep decrease (Figure 2). Despite decrease in sorghum area over the years, the production level during 2003 was almost similar to that in the early 1970's in India, which could be largely attributed to adoption of improved varieties and hybrids.
The yield increased from 800 kg ha-1 (in Asia) and 500 kg ha-1 (in India) in the early 1970's to 1000 kg ha-1 (in Asia) and 800 kg ha-1 (in India) in 2003.
In India, the area under high-yielding cultivars has increased from 0.7 m ha in the early 1970's to 6.5 m ha in the late 1990s. Of this, 6.5 m ha, 4 m ha is under kharif (rainy season), 1 m in rabi (postrainy season), and 1.5 m ha under summer sorghum. Most of the area under high-yielding cultivars is planted with about 70 private sector (PS) hybrids, of which over 50 are based on ICRISAT-bred parental lines or their derivatives. These hybrids provide a wide range of diversity for maturity and several morphological and evident grain quality traits, offering farmers much wider options than was possible before.
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)
While both area and production in ESA has increased from the early 1970's to 2003, there is a marginal increase in yield from 800 kg ha-1 in the early 1970's to just over 960 kg ha-1 in 2003 (Figure 3).
Western and Central Africa (WCA)
While the area increased by almost two-folds, production increased nearly two and a half-fold from the early 1970's to 2003 (Figure 4). Although productivity showed a positive trend, the increase was moderate from 700 kg ha-1 in the early 1970's to 900 kg ha-1 in 2003.
Latin America
The area increased marginally from 4 m ha in the early 1970's to 5 m ha in the early 1980's followed by a slight decrease till 2003, almost maintaining the level of the early 1970's (Figure 5). The production increased one and half fold from the early 1970's (9 m t) to the early 1980's (15 m t), the decreased steeply thereafter to 9 m t in the early 1990's. However, the production increased thereafter to 11 m t by 2003. The productivity increased from 2000 kg ha-1 in the early 1970's to 3000 kg ha-1 in 2003.
Cultivars released
The number of released cultivars developed based on ICRISAT-bred improved germplasm and hybrid parents have increased over the years in all regions (Asia, India, ESA, WCA and LA) (Figures 1-5). The number of cultivar releases have been highest in ESA (60) closely followed by Asia (50), WCA (50) and Latin America (34). While released cultivars include both hybrids and varieties in Asia, it is mostly varieties that are released in ESA and WCA (the exception being one hybrid released in Sudan in ESA).
