Sorghum is mainly produced in the Free State (59%), Mpumalanga (19%) and North West (11%). During the 1999/2000 production season, an estimated 142 200 ha were planted to sorghum for commercial use. This represents an increase of 43,8% compared to the 98 900 ha planted during 1998/99. A survey, which was done during August 2000, indicated that producers intended to plant 22% less sorghum during the 2000/01 production season than during the 1999/2000 season. The expected decrease in sorghum plantings can mainly be ascribed to poor price expectations.
The commercial sorghum crop for the 1999/2000 production season was expected to be 369 395 tons, with a yield of 2,60 t/ha, as against 185 636 tons for the previous season.
Plantings, production and the yield of sorghum from 1995/96 to 1999/2000 are as follows:
|
Season |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
1997/98 |
1998/99 |
1999/2000 |
|
Plantings
(ha) Production
(t) Yield
(t/ha) |
174
120 445
000 2,56 |
160
600 359
903 2,24 |
131
277 297
699 2,27 |
98
900 185
636 1,88 |
142
200 369
395 2,60 |
|
From 1995/96 to 1998/99 there was a declining trend in the production of sorghum in South Africa, mainly due to poor price expectations and high input costs.
Sorghum is mainly used for human consumption, for example malt, sorghum meal and sorghum rice. Malt is used for manufacturing beer. Surpluses are used as stock feed in instances where sorghum is competitive with other grain crops in terms of price and nutritive value. Sorghum is successfully used as a substitute for maize as an energy source.
The average annual commercial consumption of sorghum (human and animal) during the past five years is approximately 230 000 tons, of which 175 000 tons is for human consumption (malt and meal) and 55 000 tons for feed.
Human consumption increased slightly during the 1999/2000
production year, decreasing the amount of sorghum used as feed and exported. The
following graph shows the percentage utilisation of sorghum for the 1999/2000
production year:
Local producer prices for sorghum decreased by 29%, from R730/ton in 1998/99 to R520/ton for the 1999/2000 production season. The decrease in the producer price of sorghum during 1999/2000 can mainly be ascribed to an increase in production.
|
Year |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
1997/98 R/ton |
1998/99 |
1999/2000 |
|
Producer
prices |
475 |
520 |
550 |
730 |
520 |
After the termination of the Sorghum Board on 30 November 1997, the Sorghum Forum, consisting of all the affected parties in the sorghum industry (producers, traders, processors, labour, consumers and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC)) was established. The Forum meets regularly to discuss various issues relevant to the sorghum industry.
The role-players identified research and information as the most important functions to be maintained by the sorghum industry. The South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS) performs the information function, while the ARC will continue with research funded partly by the State and partly by the sorghum industry.
Currently, a levy of R3,10/ton is applicable to all buyers. The purpose of this statutory measure is to provide financial support for sorghum research and information functions. This levy will, however, lapse in 2001.
It is estimated that between 40 000 and 90 000 tons of sorghum is produced annually by the developing agricultural sector.