After completing this Module, you have learned to

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Module 2 Area and Distribution of Sorghum
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics
Modules

• After completing this Module, you have learned
  to
• Locate the origin of sorghum.
• Illustrate where sorghum crop is important in the
  world.
• List and describe the features of sorghum
  cultivating states in India.
• Recognize and explain for the decline in sorghum
  area and productivity in India.

Course on Sorghum Production Practices
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Sorghum cultivating areas
Sorghum was originated in the region of the
northeast Africa comprising Ethiopia, the Sudan
and East Africa (Doggett, 1988) (Fig.).
Sorghum was introduced into India during first
century AD.
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Sorghum cultivating areas
Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal
crop in the world after wheat, maize, rice, and
barley.
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Sorghum cultivating areas
Sorghum is cultivated in 100 counties in the
world. Covering areas in the Americas, Africa,
Asia, and the Pacific. Sorghum is third
important cereal in India after rice and
wheat. In Africa, the crop is second in
importance after maize.
Point the cursor to Zoom the map
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Sorghum cultivating areas
59 of world sorghum area is in Africa. Asian
countries occupy 25 of world sorghum
area. North and Central America covers 11 of
sorghum area and 4 is in South America.
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Sorghum cultivating areas
The developing countries in Asia and Africa
contribute more than 70 of total sorghum
production in the world. Asia alone contributes
45 of world sorghum production. North and
Central America produces 21 of sorghum and 6 is
in South America.
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Sorghum cultivating areas in Asia
Sorghum production in Asia is concentrated
mainly in India and China and contribute 86 of
sorghum production. The sorghum yields are far
less in India compared to China, Saudi Arabia and
Thailand because the crop is mostly grown under
rainfed conditions.
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Sorghum cultivating areas
One notable feature in sorghum cultivation in
India and also in many other sorghum growing
countries is that the area under cultivation is
declining from year to year (Fig.). Average
annual area under sorghum in India declined from
16 million ha in the early 1970s to 10 million ha
in the late 1990s. However, yield of sorghum has
increased to 826 kg/ha in 1990s compared 543
kg/ha in the early 1970s.
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Sorghum cultivating areas

• Some of the reasons for this decline are
• Cultivation on marginal lands
• Low fertilizers use
• Adverse agro-climatic conditions i.e failure of
  rains or drought during the crop growing
  period
• Unfavorable government policies favoring wheat
  and rice at the cost of sorghum.

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Sorghum cultivating areas
In India, 75 of sorghum area and 85 production
is concentrated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and
Andhra Pradesh. Sorghum is cultivated both
during rainy season (kharif) and post rainy
season (rabi). Only about 8 of sorghum area is
irrigated.
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Sorghum cultivating areas
In India, the yield of sorghum varies from sate
to state with varying rainfall and soil type, and
also between seasons. For example, the rainy
season sorghum yields an average of 2 to 2.5 t/ha
in areas with favorable rainfall and soils, while
the post rainy season sorghum grown under
unfavorable conditions yield around 500 kg/ha.
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Sorghum cultivating areas
Thus, the low average productivity levels are
mainly due to low yield levels of post rainy
season sorghum. The area under post rainy
season is also on the increase. Post rainy
season sorghum covers 58 of total area in the
country.
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Module 2 Area and Distribution of Sorghum
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics
Exercise
Modules

With this, the Module 2 Area and
Distribution of sorghum concludes. If you would
like to check your understanding about area and
distribution of sorghum, please click on the
Exercise button. Next, Module 3 provides
information about soil and climatic requirements
for sorghum cultivation. Click Modules
button and select Module 3
Course on Sorghum Production Practices
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Sorghum cultivating areas