Sorghum: Transforming Sindh's Agriculture

Sorghum, locally known as Jowar, is a vital grain crop in Pakistan with significant agronomic, nutritional, and economic importance. As a climate-resilient crop, sorghum thrives in dryland and semi-arid conditions, making it particularly well-suited to the southern and southwestern regions of Pakistan where other cereal crops struggle due to heat stress and water scarcity. Its drought tolerance, low input requirement, and short growing cycle make it a critical asset for ensuring food and fodder security under increasing climatic variability.

Sorghum has diverse uses: its grain is consumed by rural households, its stalks and leaves serve as valuable fodder for livestock, and sweet sorghum varieties are cultivated for bioethanol production, contributing to renewable energy potential (Hussain et al., 2023). Despite these strengths, the crop has experienced a concerning decline in cultivation and productivity in recent years. According to the International Production Assessment Division (IPAD), the area under sorghum cultivation fell from 77,000 hectares in 2021/2022 to just 47,000 hectares in 2023/2024. Concurrently, total production dropped from 64,000 tonnes to 39,000 tonnes, reflecting a significant reduction in national output.

This decline is attributed to a combination of policy neglect, market disincentives, and shifts toward higher-return crops like maize and cotton. Punjab and Sindh remain the leading sorghum-producing provinces, contributing 47% and 26%, respectively, but face mounting challenges due to shrinking farm sizes and limited extension support. Revitalizing sorghum cultivation in Pakistan requires targeted interventions, including crop insurance schemes, processing infrastructure, and market incentives for biofuel applications. Given its potential to improve rural resilience and reduce Pakistan’s dependence on water-intensive cereals, sorghum deserves renewed focus in national agricultural policy and climate adaptation strategies.

Sorghum Cultivation in Sindh and its Potential

Sorghum, a resilient and multipurpose grain crop, holds immense untapped potential for sustainable cultivation in Sindh, Pakistan’s second-most populous and agriculturally significant province. The semi-arid climate of Sindh, characterized by high temperatures, erratic rainfall, and saline soils, provides ideal agro-ecological conditions for sorghum cultivation. Unlike water-intensive crops such as sugarcane or rice, sorghum thrives with minimal water input, making it particularly valuable in water-scarce regions. Presently, sorghum is primarily grown in Khairpur, Sukkur, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, and Jamshoro districts. Statistical data indicates that Khairpur and Sukkur alone account for 43% and 22% respectively of the total sorghum output in the province, underscoring the strategic importance of these districts in scaling up production.

Sorghum plays a crucial role in enhancing food security in Sindh, particularly in regions affected by climate stress and declining irrigation potential. Its innate ability to withstand prolonged dry spells, extreme heat, and poor soil quality positions it as a reliable alternative to traditional cereal crops. In a province where agricultural productivity is increasingly threatened by climate-induced water shortages, sorghum offers a practical and resilient solution. The crop’s high adaptability challenges the longstanding perception that successful farming in Sindh is contingent upon canal irrigation or large-scale infrastructure. Instead, it demonstrates that rain-fed and dryland farming systems can yield stable and marketable harvests when matched with appropriate crop choices.

Furthermore, the potential of sorghum to transform marginal lands is substantial. Arid and semi-arid zones, historically underutilized due to poor soil fertility and inadequate water supply, can be rehabilitated through sorghum cultivation. This not only boosts regional food availability but also opens new pathways for inclusive economic growth by bringing previously uncultivable lands into productive use. Smallholder farmers, in particular, benefit from the crop’s low input costs and modest labor demands. These characteristics make sorghum an excellent candidate for diversification, especially among farmers vulnerable to climate variability and economic shocks.

Economically, sorghum offers a sustainable revenue stream for farmers in Sindh. In areas where crops such as cotton or rice have become unviable due to water scarcity or pest pressure, sorghum serves as a profitable alternative. Its robustness under adverse conditions ensures consistent yields, thus stabilizing farmer income. Integrating sorghum into existing crop rotations can reduce dependency on a few major crops, mitigating risks from price fluctuations and seasonal yield variability. Additionally, sorghum’s multipurpose utility, spanning food, fodder, and biofuel, allows farmers to tap into multiple value chains, further strengthening rural economies.

Sorghum’s market potential extends well beyond domestic use. With targeted investment in extension services, improved seed access, and better market linkages, farmers in Sindh could unlock significant value from this underutilized crop. Processing sorghum for flour, livestock feed, or bioethanol production could further enhance its economic return. Local value addition not only raises income levels for producers but also stimulates employment and entrepreneurship in rural communities. To harness these benefits, however, a coordinated approach involving government support, private investment, and farmer training is essential.

One of the most promising opportunities lies in exporting sorghum to international markets, particularly to China. Over the last decade, China has emerged as a major global importer of sorghum, driven largely by rising demand in its livestock and ethanol industries. Trade research by Wang and Malaga (2016) shows that Chinese imports have surged due to domestic corn pricing policies that make imported sorghum a cost-effective substitute. While the United States, Argentina, and Australia have historically dominated Chinese sorghum supply, recent trade tensions between China and the U.S. have created space for alternative exporters like Pakistan.

Pakistan's geographic proximity to China offers significant logistical advantages in terms of reduced freight costs and shorter delivery times. By leveraging the infrastructure and trade facilitation mechanisms of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan could establish a reliable supply chain for sorghum exports. To realize this potential, Pakistan must pursue phytosanitary agreements, ensure compliance with Chinese import regulations, and standardize quality controls across the production and processing stages. Engaging with Chinese trade authorities and investors will be crucial to secure long-term market access.

Moreover, creating institutional mechanisms to support export readiness, such as national sorghum quality standards, certified seed programs, and export-oriented farmer clusters, would position Pakistan as a credible player in the global sorghum market. Doing so would not only boost foreign exchange earnings but also stimulate rural development and agricultural diversification. The success of such an initiative would depend on Pakistan’s ability to coordinate across agricultural, trade, and diplomatic sectors to establish a strong presence in one of the world’s most dynamic commodity markets.

In conclusion, expanding sorghum cultivation in Sindh is not just an agronomic necessity, it is an economic opportunity. As climate change intensifies and conventional crops become increasingly vulnerable, sorghum stands out as a strategic solution that supports food security, enhances farmer resilience, and opens doors to global trade. Realizing its full potential will require targeted investments, forward-looking policies, and cross-sector collaboration—but the long-term rewards for Sindh’s agricultural future are undeniable.

Opportunities and Challenges

Pakistan, particularly Sindh, holds considerable potential to benefit from the rising global demand for sorghum—especially in China, where the crop is used increasingly for animal feed and ethanol production. To seize this opportunity, a comprehensive and strategic approach is essential. Key interventions include improving farming practices by introducing high-yielding, drought-tolerant sorghum varieties, and expanding cultivation into climate-resilient zones. Enhanced agronomic methods, including better crop rotation, weed control, and irrigation efficiency, can significantly boost yields and farm profitability.

Equally important is the improvement of post-harvest handling. Many smallholder farmers currently lack the training and infrastructure to meet international quality and hygiene standards. Investments in cold storage, hermetic grain storage bags, moisture control, and climate-controlled transport systems will be critical for minimizing post-harvest losses and maintaining export-grade quality. Establishing centralized collection and processing centers can further streamline supply chains.

Policy support is also essential. The government must develop farmer-friendly policies, including export facilitation schemes, subsidized inputs, extension services, and access to affordable credit. However, various challenges need to be addressed. Sindh’s agriculture depends heavily on the Indus Basin, which is under increasing stress due to water shortages. Changing climate patterns, such as higher temperatures and erratic rainfall, pose additional risks to crop productivity. Moreover, many farmers remain unaware of modern cultivation techniques, export protocols, and the potential of sorghum in international markets.

To overcome these barriers, targeted knowledge-building initiatives, such as farmer field schools, digital advisory platforms, and community-based extension programs, must be implemented. Additionally, contract farming models and public-private partnerships can support value chain development and market integration. Certified seed systems need to be established to ensure quality input supply and higher productivity. Incentivizing the cultivation of grain-type sorghum, which has greater export potential, and facilitating direct business-to-business linkages between Chinese importers and Sindh-based producer groups will further enhance competitiveness. By addressing these opportunities and constraints holistically, Pakistan can position itself as a key player in the global sorghum trade while strengthening domestic agricultural resilience.

Conclusion

Sorghum holds transformative potential for Sindh’s agriculture amid escalating climate and market challenges. As a drought-resilient, low-input crop, it offers a sustainable alternative to water-intensive cereals, particularly in semi-arid districts like Khairpur, Sukkur, and Sanghar. Beyond its agronomic advantages, sorghum contributes to household food security, provides essential fodder, and supports biofuel industries, making it a multifunctional asset in Pakistan’s evolving agroeconomy.

With global demand, especially from China, on the rise, Pakistan is well-positioned to explore sorghum as a strategic export commodity. The country’s proximity to China, logistical advantages through CPEC, and the shifting dynamics of global sorghum trade offer a rare opportunity to diversify exports and earn valuable foreign exchange. However, realizing this potential will require coordinated action: improving seed systems, farmer training, post-harvest handling, and policy support.

The path forward must integrate climate-smart practices, institutional reforms, and market linkages tailored to the realities of smallholder farming. By investing in sorghum’s production and export ecosystem, Pakistan can unlock inclusive rural development, reduce vulnerability to climate and commodity shocks, and establish itself as a reliable global supplier. In an era of rising food insecurity and water stress, scaling sorghum is not just an agricultural option—it is a strategic imperative for Sindh and the nation.

References: Hussain et al.; Wang and Malaga

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writers are 1 Director at PARC-SSRI, Tandojam, Sindh Pakistan & 2 and Professor at Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistancan be reached at aslammemon@parc.gov.pk & mikumbhar2000@yahoo.com

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