The Department of Agriculture (DA) is inclined to push for the development of local sorghum production to meet the growing demand of the livestock sector for animal feeds.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the DA would kick start its sorghum production program (SPP) to supplement the country’s yellow corn output for the needs of the feed milling and livestock sectors.
Piñol said the SPP would be part of the DA’s programs and plans involving indigenous peoples (IP).
“The sorghum production program will be focused mainly in indigenous people’s ancestral domain areas because it could be easily grown in poor soil,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday.
“Sorghum could also be harvested three times because of its ratooning characteristics, where it regrows when cut at ground level,” he added.
Piñol said local feed millers have expressed interest in purchasing locally produced sorghum as it is a protein-rich crop.
“The rapid growth of the poultry and livestock industries has increased demand for yellow corn, pushing prices up,” he said.
Piñol said the SPP would be headed by the DA’s Special Area for Agricultural Development team, which oversees programs intended to cut poverty incidence in the farm sector.
“SAAD will distribute sorghum seeds, including fertilizers to IP [indigenous peoples] farmers, the value of which will be deducted from the proceeds after harvest to make the program sustainable,” he added.