Red Sorghum

Commercial sorghum refers to the cultivation and commercial exploitation of species of grasses within the genus Sorghum(often S. bicolor). These plants are used for grain, fibre and fodder. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Commercial Sorghum species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia.

Sorghum has been, for centuries, one of the most important staple foods for millions of poor rural people in the semiarid tropics of Asia and Africa. For some impoverished regions of the world, sorghum remains a principal source of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Sorghum grows in harsh environments where other crops do not grow well, just like other staple foods, such as cassava, that are common in impoverished regions of the world. It is usually grown without application of any fertilizers or other inputs by a multitude of small-holder farmers in many countries. Sorghum is used for food, fodder, and the production of alcoholic beverages. It is drought tolerant and heat tolerant, and is especially important in arid regions. It is an important food crop in Africa, Central America, and South Asia, and is the "fifth most important cerealcrop grown in the world". 

In animal nutrition, grain sorghum is mostly used as an energy source and is a good feedstuff for poultry, pigs and ruminants. The stalks remaining after harvest can be grazed as some varieties stay green for a long period of time. Sorghum may also be grown for fodder, for grazing or cut green to make silage and hay.

Sorghum Human Consumption

Sorghum is a genus of herbaceous plants of the family Poaceae (grass) which includes about twenty species of temperate and warm climates plants. Many of them are grown as forage or as cereals for human consumption. Sorghum grains color varies from white and pale yellow to deep red, purple and brown, white, bronze and brown.  

Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is considered to be one of the four most important cereal grains used for human consumption. While sorghum is considered to be native to tropical Africa and continues to be a leading cereal grain the most areas of the continent.Now it has huge source in India.

The color of the sorghum grain may be white, yellow, red, or brown.  Certified food grade sorghum varieties are white but red has been recently developed for food use as well.  

Sorghum is higher in protein and lower in fat than corn. The mineral composition differs only slightly from corn, and the vitamin content in grain sorghum is similar to white corn.

Sorghum is sometimes referred to as kafir, kafir corn, durra, milo, maize, Egyptian corn, African millet, Black Indian millet and pearl millet.    

The grain is an excellent food source when ground into flour and used to make pancakes, cake, pap, pancake creole, porridge and flatbreads.

Sorghum is now used in a variety of recipes found online and in cookbooks, especially for people who are looking for gluten-free diet. Some recipes for which Sorghum is used include muffins, breads, pizzas, pasta dishes, cookies, cakes, and pies. 

Some of the health benefits of sorghum include its ability to prevent certain types of cancer, help control diabetes, offer a dietary option for people with Celiac disease, improve digestive health, build strong bones, promote red blood cell development, and boost energy and fuel production.

Sorghum grain is a small, hard caryopsis or ground to make flour for baking (flat breads) and pastry. Sorghum grain is used for the production of alcoholic beverages, including beer and liquors. Some sorghum varieties are used for dyeing textiles or vered by glumes. In grain sorghum, panicles are compact and bear 25,000 to 60,000 seeds/kg). Forage sorghum yields 120,000 - 160,000 seeds/kg. The whole grain can be boiled, roasted, popped .

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