By HELEN ZULU –
ZAMBIA Seed Company (ZAMSEED) has urged farmers in the country to diversify into sorghum production as it has a number of benefits to the economy.
Company marketing manager Zack Musonda said there was need for farmers to engage in sorghum production as it was good for food and livestock feed production.
He said the grain could also be used in the production of ethanol.
Mr Musonda said the company was encouraging farmers to engage in sorghum production as it had shown potential as a raw material for fuel grade ethanol production due to its rapid growth rate and early maturity.
He said this in an interview yesterday at the 90th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka.
“We are trying to educate farmers on diversifying their crops; we have identified sorghum as an important crop as it can be used in many things like beer production, food and livestock feed production.
“The Government should promote the growing of sorghum among farmers because it has the potential to increase the production of ethanol which can help the country move away from hydro-power generation,” Mr Musonda said.
He said the demand for ethanol was increasing drastically because of its blending in automotive fuels, which was desirable for getting clean fuel sufficiency.
Mr Musonda said ethanol producing companies, research institutions, and the Government could coordinate with farmers to strategically develop value-added utilisation of sorghum.
He said fuel grade ethanol from sweet sorghum syrup could significantly address the energy challenge the country was facing and the over-dependency on copper exports.
Mr Musonda said farmers should take advantage of the ready market in China to produce more sorghum for exports to the Asian country.
“Bio-ethanol which is used for transportation and power generation also minimises the environmental threat caused by fossil fuels,” he said.
Mr Musonda urged farmers to embrace crop rotation and the use of cover crops like beans and cowpeas to increase production.