Sorghum is a cereal crop considered to be a staple in some parts of Asia and Africa. According to FAO’s Food and Nutrition Series, sorghum grows in harsh environments where other crops do not grow well, thus, it can contribute to the food needs of the people in these areas.
Sorghum is something new to Region 8 farmers as there were only a handful of demo farms established in prior years. Hence, it is being introduced to the region.
ATI RTC 8 conducted the Training on Sorghum Production for agricultural extension workers (AEWs) to them in terms of knowledge and skills in the potential of sorghum production in region 8. Participants learned about the status of sorghum production in the Philippines. Being a crop that is not commonly grown in the region, participants were taught about the potential benefits of sorghum, how it is produced, and the cost and return analysis of the crop.
The participants visited the A&A Corn Farm in Merida, Leyte. Mr. Hermogenes Alvarez, farm owner, had an area planted to sorghum as it was a demonstration area of DA-RFO 8 showcasing the potential production, yield, and adaptability of sorghum in the region. The farm gave the participants an opportunity to get to know the crop better. They did hands-on activities such as seed treatment, seed sowing, insect pests and diseases collection and identification, fertilizer application, and ratooning.
The training was conducted on May 23-25, 2023 at ATI RTC 8, VSU, Baybay City, Leyte. The 21 participants came from LGUs which are the target sites of DA-RFO 8 for the establishment of sorghum demonstration areas in 2024. The training was PRC accredited with 10 CPD units.
Mr. Danilo Mutya, a participant, looks forward to sharing his learning with farmers. He shared that prior to his attendance to the training he also researched about the crop. He said that it won’t be that difficult to grow sorghum as it was like corn. He looked forward to introducing the crop in his municipality.
