Nigeria is one of the largest producer of Sorghum in the world. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is the 5th most important cereal crop in the world, following wheat, maize, rice, and barley.

 

Sorghum is the most important cereal crop in the Northern part of Nigeria. It is grown on about 5.6 million hectares in Nigeria, and the current annual production is estimated to be about 2.8 million tons.

Sorghum has gained popularity due to its nutritional value, versatility, and adaptability to different climatic conditions, it grows in warm regions worldwide. Sorghum belongs to the grass family.  It has big, bushy flower clusters that produce edible grains with up to 3,000 seeds in each cluster.

 

Sorghum is widely cultivated for its grains, which are used for human consumption, livestock feed, and industrial applications. The whole grain may be ground into flour, which is then used in various traditional foods.

 

SORGHUM FARMING IN NIGERIA

Sorghum farming is the growing of the sorghum crop for the purpose of harvesting the sorghum grains. Sorghum farming involves all the processes associated with the cultivation of sorghum. These processes include getting the seeds, land preparation, planting, maintenance of the sorghum plants, harvesting, and marketing of the produce.

 

The following are the steps to plant sorghum in Nigeria:

1. Climatic Requirements

Sorghum grows in tropical conditions. Sorghum requires good sunlight. Ensure the temperature of your location is suitable for sorghum planting, typically above 15°C. Also, ensure adequate rainfall or irrigation is available for the crop.

 

2. Farmland or Site Selection

To grow sorghum, you need to find a suitable farmland site. The farmland should have a good access road so that the produce of the sorghum farm can be easily evacuated to the market. The farmland should also have good soil suitable for sorghum farming.

3. Soil Suitability

Sandy loamy soil is the most suitable soil for sorghum farming in Nigeria. The soil should be well-drained. Sorghum will not produce a high yield if the soil is poor in nutrients. The soil pH should be 6.0 - 7.0. If Sorghum is planted in extremely acidic soil, it will not produce at its best.

 

Dolomite or lime should be added as an amendment to acidic soil. Soil testing helps identify any nutrient deficiencies or imbalances that may be limiting the growth of your sorghum plants. Based on the soil test results, you can adjust your fertilizer program to meet the specific needs of your crop.

 

4. Soil Preparation

This is the removal of the trees, stumps, and weeds before ploughing. Several ploughing and harrowing cycles could be required, based on the state of the soil. Areas that are prone to floods should be ridged before planting.

 

5. Choosing the Sorghum Variety

Sorghum generally does well in tropical areas like Nigeria. The most popular sorghum varieties in Nigeria are Samsorg 45 and Samsorg 46. These varieties are well-suited for the conditions in Nigeria. They are also high-yielding.

 

6. Farm Equipment

The farm equipment you must have for effective sorghum farming includes Tractors, Sprayers, Harrowers, Ploughs, Power tillers, Cutlasses, hoes, Weeders, etc.

 

7. Irrigation

Irrigation is important for sorghum farming in Nigeria, as the crop is grown in the dry season months when there is little or no rain. A drip irrigation system is the best approach here for sorghum farming. With most drip systems, disease and insect damage are reduced because leaves are not moistened by irrigation water. In addition, the areas between rows remain dry, which reduces weed growth and water use, as well as pests and pathogens in these areas of the field.

 

 

8. Planting of the Sorghum Seeds

Sorghum seeds should be planted in 1- 2 cm deep holes. The intra-row spacing of the sorghum plant should be 5 - 15cm, while the inter-row spacing should be 10cm - 30 cm. You can also use the broadcasting method to plant the sorghum seeds.

 

 

9. Weed Control

Cultural practices like weeding with hoes and cutlasses can be used to remove weeds on sorghum farms. Mulches like plastic mulch and organic mulch can also be used for weed control in sorghum farming.

 

10. Fertilizer and Manure Application

Essential nutrients for sorghum include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and zinc. These nutrients are crucial for its growth. Each ton of sorghum needs about 30 kg of nitrogen which is required during the vegetative and early reproductive stages.

 

Common nitrogen fertilizer includes, Urea and Ammonium Nitrate. Sorghum needs about 4.5 kg of phosphorus which is important during the early growth stages for root development and seed formation. Common phosphorus fertilizer include Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer, and Mono Ammonium Phosphate (MAP).

 

Sorghum needs about 16.3 kg of potassium during the reproductive period when plants are entering flowering phase. Sorghum needs about 5.2 kg of sulfur which is important for protein synthesis and chlorophyll production, it's supplied through fertilizer like Ammonium sulfate, and 2.4 kg of zinc which is applied as zinc sulfate and it's essential for various plant functions.

 

11. Harvesting

Harvesting starts within 90 - 120 days, depending on the variety. Harvesting can be done through the use of a mechanized harvester, or it can also be done by hand using tools like sickles, by cutting off ripe crops or plants, and gathering them. Harvesting is a very tedious operation on the farm, and it is the point at which losses and wastages detrimental to your farming business can occur

 

TYPES OF SORGHUM

The following are the types of sorghum available for farming:

Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

It comes in various colors, including red, orange, bronze, tan, white, and black. The red, orange, and bronze types are very versatile, finding uses in many areas of the sorghum industry. The tan, cream, and white varieties are mostly processed into flour for the food industry.

 

Forage Sorghum (Sorghum halepense (L.) pers)

 It is commonly known as Johnson grass and can be used for grazing, hay, silage, and green-chop, depending on the species and variety chosen. Typically, it grows between 240 cm and 450 cm tall and is especially popular as silage for feeding animals.

 

Biomass Sorghum

It is the tallest of all sorghum types, reaching up to 600 cm in a typical growing season. It has been developed to produce a large amount of non-grain biomass.

 

Sweet Sorghum

It is mainly grown for its syrup. Instead of harvesting grain, it is cut for its stalks and processed like sugarcane or beets to create syrup. Nowadays, sweet sorghum is used as a healthier sweetener and in the production of whiskey, rum, biofuels, and various chemicals.

 

SORGHUM PLANTING AND HARVESTING TIPS

Below are some tips to follow for effective sorghum farming:

Sorghum needs ground that gets full sun and has fertile, well-drained soil. Because sorghum is self-fertile, a large plot is not needed for pollination purposes. Mix a balanced fertilizer into the bed or row before planting.

 

Sorghum needs soil temperature to reach at least 16°C. In the garden, plant sorghum by hand, 3.8 cm deep, in clumps of four seeds per hole. Space the holes 45cm - 60cm apart. Four seeds should yield about three uniform stalks and heads, enough to make a few dried arrangements if you are growing them for ornamental use.

Harvesting all three varieties is fairly simple. For sweet sorghum, cut the canes at ground level about two weeks after the milk stage. Next, strip off the leaves and ground or press the canes, which will yield a light green juice that can then be cooked into sorghum syrup. At this stage, the seeds aren’t yet fully mature, but they can be used as animal feed or cooked and eaten like other whole grains. Grain and broom sorghum are harvested after the seeds fully mature.

 

The hard, glossy seeds of grain sorghum are harvested by cutting them off with a small portion of the stalk attached. Dry them in a warm, well-ventilated place for at least a week, then roll the dried seed heads on a hardware cloth screen or soil sieve to free the seeds and separate them from plant debris. Your processed harvest can then be stored in the freezer. As for broom varieties, cut the stalks as long as you need them for floral arrangements or crafts. Allow the stalks to dry in small bunches.

 

SORGHUM IMPORTS AND EXPORTS MARKET

In 2023, Nigeria exported $2.35M of Sorghum, making it the 18th largest exporter of Sorghum (out of 115) in the world. During the same year, Sorghum was the 139th most exported product (out of 1,096) in Nigeria. In 2023, the main destinations of Nigeria's Sorghum exports were: Tanzania ($889k), Burundi ($741k), Cameroon ($401k), Niger ($173k), and the United Kingdom ($120k). The fastest growing markets for Sorghum exports from Nigeria between 2022 and 2023 were: Burundi ($740k), Niger ($93.1k), and China ($665).

 

 

SORGHUM DEMAND OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Nigeria is the largest producer of sorghum in West Africa and the third-largest in the world. However, it still imports sorghum to satisfy local demand, especially from industries like brewing. Despite the good sorghum export figures, Nigeria still imports over $10M worth of sorghum from the United States.

 

For example, in 2010, Nigeria imported 13,000 tons of sorghum while only exporting 45 tons. The main reason for this importation is that local production does not provide enough high-quality sorghum needed by industries. Nigerian Breweries Plc, for instance, requires 120,000 tons of sorghum each year, which is a large portion of what the country produces.

 

This situation presents a good chance for entrepreneurs to invest in sorghum production and processing, especially in northern Nigeria, where sorghum is mainly grown. With the government’s focus on reducing imports and the increasing demand for locally sourced materials, entrepreneurs can enter this market by producing high-quality sorghum that meets industry standards.

 

Potential opportunities for entrepreneurs include:

1. Sorghum farming: Starting large-scale sorghum farms to supply high-quality sorghum.
2. Sorghum processing: Setting up facilities to process sorghum into malt, meal, and other value-added products.
3. Supply chain management: Offering logistics and supply chain services to connect sorghum farmers with industries and exporters.

 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SORGHUM

Sorghum is a good source of vitamins and minerals. It has a high content of dietary fiber and is a rich source of antioxidants. Sorghum is a natural cure for patients of diabetes and lowers blood cholesterol. It helps in weight control, provides strong bones, improves mood, boosts energy levels, and promotes blood circulation.

Sorghum is very high in both copper and iron, which are minerals that are crucial for blood circulation. Iron is important for red blood cell development. Copper helps to increase the uptake of iron in the body. Eating sorghum boosts red blood cell synthesis and stimulates blood circulation.

 

USES OF SORGHUM

The grain is used as food by humans, while the plant is used for animal feed and ethanol production. The stalk of sweet sorghum varieties, called sorgo and taller than those grown for grain, can be used for forage or silage or crushed for juice that can be boiled down into edible syrup or fermented into ethanol. (Ratvanathi et al., 2016)

 

SORGHUM FLOUR

Flour is produced from Sorghum through milling of white sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor). Sorghum is gluten-free, it's used to produce traditional food products. Leavened bread can be produced from Sorghum flour. (Ratvanathi et al., 2016). Sorghum flour is a safe alternative to flour for those with celiac disease, those that cannot eat wheat or other grains due to gluten intolerance can eat Sorghum. It is relatively tasteless and it can be substituted with wheat flour.

 

SORGHUM SYRUP

Sorghum syrup is a similar consistency and color to molasses, but is made using a sorghum cane rather than sugar cane. Sorghum has served as the table sweetener of choice for Southern homes. It fell out of favor in the mid-1900s, as refined white sugar, once a symbol of affluence, became much more widely available and affordable.

Sorghum syrup has a distinctive flavor. It has a less saccharine and a more complex flavor than corn or sugar cane syrups.

 

CONCLUSION

Sorghum farming is a very economical activity to be engaged in due to its domestic and industrial uses. Sorghum is a nutrient-dense, plant-based protein that is rich in fiber and antioxidants, making it an excellent choice for meeting dietary needs. It is loaded with essential nutrients such as protein, iron, vitamin B6, niacin, magnesium, and phosphorus, all of which contribute to overall health. Additionally, sorghum grain is high in energy, containing 10% protein and almost 75% complex carbohydrates, making it an ideal ingredient for producing flour, syrup and beverages.

 

REFERENCE

Ratvanathi, C. D. (2016). "Sorghum Syrup and Other by Products". Science Direct. Academic Press. Retrieved 23 July 2025.