Resilient Crop! Sorghum Survives 2 Rainless Months

A few days ago, our working crew in Alamada, North Cotabato sent me photos of a one-hectare Sorghum farm owned by the Canag Family in Barangay Pigcawaran showing Sorghum on its first ratoon surviving almost 60 days without any significant rainfall.
In fact, the Corn fields in Alamada and other towns in the province of Cotabato withered and died because of the long dry spell which may lead to a corn supply shortage this year.
Farmers, including me, had suspended all planting activities because the land is bone dry and sowing Corn, Sorghum and Soybeans at this time would just lead to losses.
Yet, Sorghum, an African grass which produces grains with higher protein content than corn (11% compared to Corn’s 8 to 9%), which had been planted earlier and firmly rooted in the ground is still able to survive with whatever moisture there is in the soil.
The leaves are still green while the grains production, which may not be as much under better weather conditions, is uninterrupted.
Sorghum must be given greater focus now by the Department of Agriculture as a complementary crop to Corn for feed grains production.
Our small and young company, the Southseas Agri-Aqua Ventures Inc. which I and former Senator Ping Lacson formed two years ago, had already done its part in introducing Sorghum and showing that it is the most practical crop to grow.
It does not only produce grains for feeds but also Silage material for our Cattle, Goats and Sheep farmers because its stalks maintain high moisture and its leaves remain green even at harvest.
SAAVI has led and shown the way.
The ball is now in the court of the Department of Agriculture to pursue the program and introduce this in other parts of the country.
#farmingisendlesslearning!
(Photos of Sorghum thriving in spite of the long dry spell were taken by former Vice Mayor Samuel Alim of Alamada.)