Sorghum

Like pearl millet and finge rmillet, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a native African cereal, originating in the Sudan/Ethiopian border region, and has since spread throughout the world (De Wet, 1978; Doggett, 1988).  It id drought-resistant and outyields maize in drier areas, as well as being more resistant to waterlogging than millet.  Sorghum grain is used for human consumption, including brewing, stalks are used as animal feed, fuel, house and fence building and mulching.

Almost half of the world's total sorghum acreage is in Africa, the most important producers being Nigeria and Sudan, followed by Ethiopia and some of the Sahelian countries.

The most important stemborers of sorghum are the noctuids B. fusca, S. botanephaga, S. calamistis and S. cretica, and the introduced crambid C. partellus.

Major references: Acland (1971); De wet (1978); ICRISAT (1984a, b, 1986a, b); Doggett (1988).