Sorghum popularly known as jowar is the most important food and fodder crop of dry land agriculture. The cereal crop is perennial in nature and possessing
corn like leaves and bearing the grain in a compact cluster.
Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop in the world after wheat, rice, maize and barley.
It is found in the arid and semi arid parts of the world, due to its feature of being extremely drought tolerant. The nutritional value of sorghum is same as of
that of corn and that is why it is gaining importance as livestock feed. Sorghum is also used for ethanol production, producing grain alcohol, starch production,
production of adhesives and paper other than being used as food and feed.
Jowar is one of the major staple food grain crops in India. Out of the total area under jowar cultivation in India, 50% is cultivated in Maharashtra. Whereas out
of the total production of Jowar in the nation, 52% is from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.
One more advantage of this crop is that it can be grown in both Kharif and Rabi season.
When compared to rice and wheat, Sorghum has a higher content of calcium. Besides calcium, it also packed with iron, protein and fibre. The latest revelations in connection with this grain point to cardiac benefits. This benefit accrues from the presence of antioxidants in fairly large amounts. These antioxidants present in Sorghum are polyphenolic compounds. In addition to the antoxidants, the presence of sorghum wax, contributes to the cardiac benefit that this millet provides. The wax in this grain contains policosanols , which help in lowering cholesterol levels.
North: UP, Rajasthan
Central: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
South: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Kharif, post-rainy & summer season
