Fringe Benefits! Sorghum Production Program To Boost Ruminants Industry

Filipino-American farmer-scientist Rocky French, who is part of our young company Southseas Agri-Aqua Ventures, Inc. (SAAVI), describes Sorghum as a versatile crop which could be a game changer in the country’s poultry, livestock and ruminants industry.
“I have never seen a crop so resilient and versatile that it is basically a farmers’ dream product,” he said.
As seen in the current long dry spell when Corn had withered because of the absence of rain, Sorghum survived and the heat induced early grains head emergence.
Also, with one planting, the farmer could harvest Sorghum grains three times because the crop grows tillers and goes through regenerative process called “Ratooning.”
Added to that, French emphasized that the farmer enjoys additional benefits of using the stalks and leaves for Silage production after harvest.
“This will enable the farmer to raise large and small ruminants because of the endless supply of Silage after every harvest,” French said.
With a crude protein content of 11%, higher than Corn’s 8%, Sorghum could be an ideal complementary crop to Corn in poultry and livestock feeds production.
The good news is that the Department of Agriculture under Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has decided to reinstate the Sorghum Development Program which I started in 2018 but which was shelved by my predecessor, William Dar, in 2019.
In the proposed 2025 budget of the DA, Sorghum is included in the Corn and Feed Grains Development Program of the government.
#FarmingIsCommonSense!