In a bid towards boosting the value chain and market value of Sorghum in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have met with stakeholders.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, represented by the ministry’s Zonal Director, North-East, Dr Musa Mohammed, while speaking at the stakeholders meeting in Bauchi said that the meeting was timely as it would 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.
The theme of the workshop was on ‘Streamlining Existing Sorghum Varieties, Commercialisation and Product Development of Sorghum in Nigeria’.
Nanono 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.
“As well, it is 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.”
According to him, “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.”
Nanono said the crop has continued to assume great industrial relevance with many multinational companies especially in the the brewery industry through the use of 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 further that the Sorghum composite with wheat flour are used to serve as main ingredients in the manufacture of confectionaries such as bread, biscuit, cracker, cakes, couscous, infant foods and cookies. Others include; noodles, spaghetti and macaroni.
In the non-food industrial sector, he said, Sorghum as grits are used for aluminum-ore refining, animal feeds, building materials and in foundry binders.
Nanono emphasised that since Sorghum 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.”
Nigeria is the world’s third largest producer of Sorghum after the United States and India.
In 2020, the production of sorghum in Nigeria was estimated to amount to almost seven million metric tons. Between 2010 and 2020, the sorghum crop in the country increased overall.
