Sorghum farming: A promising crop in Caraga Region
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur -- Seeing the potential of sorghum for additional income of the farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga is now embarking on the initial campaign for the farmers to plant the new commodity.
Since 2020, DA-Caraga had already conducted
various activities to promote the crop through the establishment of eight
sorghum technology demonstrations (techno demo), of which the latest is the
conduct of the field day in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur last August 13.
“Our techno demos were conducted in corn
cluster areas since sorghum is one of the commodities under the corn program.
Farmer cooperators were provided with seeds and inputs, as well as technical
training,” said Regional Corn Program Coordinator Melody Guimary.
In Tagbina’s Field Day, the proprietor of
AMCB Enterprises of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur attended personally and
shared that his company will is in need of sorghum. The company requires around
6,000 kilograms of sorghum per month with a current buying price of P16.00 -
P17.00 for dried sorghum grains.
“If Caraga Region can supply sorghum, we are
willing to patronize our local farmer’s produce rather than importing it from
other countries,” he emphasized.
Farm management of sorghum is much the same
as corn farming, but farmers may harvest twice through the ratoon cropping
or the cultivation of crop growth after harvest.
Sorghum is a kind of plant that belongs to
the grass family. Some of its species are grown as cereals for human
consumption and some in pastures for animals. (Aurelius Arais,
DA13-RAFIS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
