Sorghum (also known as Jowar) is a versatile cereal crop with significant potential for value-added products, presenting a valuable opportunity for Maharashtra farmers. Value-added products have undergone some processing, enhancing their market value and offering additional revenue streams.
Value-added products from Sorghum
Sorghum Flour:
Sorghum grains grind into Sorghum flour. Sorghum flour is gluten-free and has a slightly sweet and nutty flavour. Sorghum flour is useful in bread, biscuits, pancakes, and gluten-free baked goods. With the growing demand for gluten-free products, sorghum flour can find a niche market.
Sorghum-based Breakfast Cereals:
Sorghum grains can be processed into flakes or puffed grains and used as a base for nutritious and healthy breakfast cereals. Ingredients like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits added to sorghum grains produce a range of tasty and nutritious Cereals.
Sorghum-based Snacks:
Popped sorghum kernels are a healthier alternative to popcorn. Additionally, sorghum can be extruded into various shapes to create savoury snacks, such as sorghum chips and crackers.
Sorghum-based Beverages
Sorghum fermentation produces traditional African beverages like “kaffir beer” or “umqombothi.” Additionally, sorghum can be malted and processed to create sorghum-based beer or even distilled to produce sorghum-based spirits.
Sorghum Syrup:
Sorghum juice boiling results in the natural sweetener Sorghum syrup or sorghum molasses. It can be used as a substitute for maple syrup or added to baked goods and other culinary applications.
Sorghum-based Animal Feed:
Sorghum can be processed into animal feed, providing a nutritious and cost-effective option for livestock and poultry farmers. The by-products of other value-added processes, such as sorghum bran and meal, can also be utilized as animal feed.
Sorghum Starch and Glucose:
Sorghum starch can be extracted and used in various food and industrial applications, such as confectionery, paper, and textile production. Sorghum hydrolysis produces glucose syrups widely used in the food industry.
To capitalize on these opportunities, Maharashtra farmers can consider investing in value-added processing units and establishing collaborations with food processing companies. Moreover, promoting sorghum-based products in local and international markets can create strong market demand, leading to increased incomes for farmers and contributing to the overall growth of the agricultural sector in the region.
