Sorghum and millet: assets for agriculture
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Sorghum and Millet: Crop Diversification
Sorghum and millet are cereals that have been cultivated for millennia in many regions of the world, mainly in Africa and Asia. Their popularity is due to their health benefits, but also to their advantages in cultivation:
- Resilient crops: they require less water than other cereals such as corn or wheat, making them ideal crops for regions suffering from water shortages. For information, corn requires 30% to 40% more water. Being very hardy, they also adapt very well to climatic hazards (droughts, floods, etc.).
- CO2 absorption: they have a very good ability to capture CO2 from the air and convert it into nutrients to enrich the soil.
Sorghum and Millet: Solutions to Help Combat Drought
In France and worldwide, droughts are no longer limited to the hot season. Indeed, the winter of 2022-2023 was proof of this, with more than 30 consecutive days without rain.
Droughts can be of different types:
- meteorological, if there is a lack of precipitation
- agricultural, if the soil and vegetation lack water
- hydrological, when river flow and groundwater reserves are abnormally low
These water shortages put a strain on agriculture and lead to earlier and earlier irrigation (irrigating means artificially watering). It is worth noting that even vine crops, known for requiring very little water, are often increasingly irrigated in certain regions. Due to their hardiness, adapted root systems, and low water requirements, sorghum and millet can become real assets.
How can sorghum and millet cultivation help farmers?
- Reduced water needs: farmers can reduce their dependence on water resources.
- Biodiversity preservation: crop diversification is known to strengthen ecosystem resilience and promote biodiversity.
- Mitigate economic risks: cultivating a variety of different crops ensures greater economic security for farmers by limiting risks related to yields.
Conclusion: Sorghum and Millet Adapt to Current Climate Challenges
In conclusion, sorghum and millet can contribute to the fight against drought and climatic hazards. These crops can help build more resilient agriculture and address current challenges. This is why more and more farmers in France are turning to these cereals.
