FG, stakeholders synergise to up-scale sorghum production dominate international market

The Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on Sunday that it’s working out strategies to make Nigeria dominate in Sorghum production in the world.

Currently, Nigeria is the third largest producer of Sorghum  in the world, after the United States of America and India

In the strategy, the ministry of agriculture and rural development will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to increase productivity of the sorghum value chain. The collaboration with the stakeholders, NewsExpress learnt on Sunday, will involve the streamlining the cultivation of the approved varieties for the crop in Nigeria in order to make global impact.

The minister draws attention to food value of Sorghum, saying is one of the staple food in most sub-Saharan  countries including Nigeria. “Its production must be strengthened to meet Regional Reserve , World Food Programme as well as local consumption demands minding the advance effects of Covid -19, Boko Haram/ Bandits and flood”.

A statement said all is in the ministry’s sustained efforts boost productivity of Sorghum.

At the stakeholders meeting in Bauchi State over the weekend, according to the statement, by Mrs Eno Olotu, of the information unit of the ministry the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono represented by the ministry’s Zonal Director,  North-East, Dr Musa Inuwa Mohammed, said that the meeting was timely,  adding it will enable an inclusive strategy on how to strengthen and improve on Sorghum value chain for increased productivity and production to assist in tackling the threats of food scarcity.

With the theme of the workshop “Streamlining Existing Sorghum Varieties, Commercialisation and Product Development of Sorghum in Nigeria”, the minister in his speech underscores the importance of increasing Sorghum productivity in the country.

He said: “the overall policy objective of Sorghum production is to increase the productivity and to promote small, medium and large- scale  commercial production of the crop using improved high yielding varieties and hybrids and to promote value addition  of the crop as raw materials for the industrial food markets, livestock feeds and highly nutrition well packaged food products for local and international markets”.

The. Minister said “the Federal Government is committed to the promotion of the agricultural sector by  unleashing its potential to drive food and nutrition scarcity,  economic growth and job creation.

“The ministry is ensuring accelerated Sorghum production and value  addition towards self- sufficiency to meet industrial requirements as well as boost farmers income and generate employment in the country”. He added that the initiative is a collaborative effort with all stakeholders”.

Nanono  disclosed Sorghum has continued to assume great industrial relevance and that many multinational companies in the brewery  industry use  Sorghum grits as adjuncts up to 40% to barley base (mash) for making alcoholic and non-alcholic beverages (Maltina, Maltex and Amstel Malt) .

He explained  that the Sorghum composite with wheat  flour are used to serve as main ingredient in the manufacture of confectionaries such as bread, biscuit, cracker, cakes, couscous, infant foods and cookies.

He further explained that other uses include; Indomie, spaghetti and macaroni. In the non- food industrial sector, according to him, Sorghum as grits are used for aluminum-ore refining, animal feeds, building materials and in foundry binders.

Papers presented at the meeting include: “ Streamlining of Existing Sorghum Varieties to Meet Industrial  Demand” by the Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research, (IAR) , Zaria, Prof  M. Ishiyaku and “ Supporting the Rural Farmers and Smallholders for Jobs and and Wealth Creation”, by Dr Yusuf  Oseni, of the Department  of Economics, presented by Dr Sani Abdullahi.