Agriculture and Environment: Commodities

Table of Facts: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Production
Area Under Cultivation - 42.0 Million ha
Global Production - 58.0 Million MT
Average Productivity - 1,381 kg/ha
Producer Price - $90 per MT
Producer Production Value - $5,222 Million

International Trade
Share of World Production - 13%
Exports - 7.7 million MT
Average Price - $98 per MT
Value - $754 Million

Principal Producing Countries/Blocs (by weight)
United States, India, Nigeria, Mexico, Argentina, China, Sudan, Australia

Principal Exporting Countries/Blocs
United States, Argentina, France, Sudan

Principal Importing Countries/Blocs
Mexico, Japan, Spain, Israel, Italy, Chile


Major Environmental Impacts

• Habitat Conversion
• Soil erosion and degradation
• Agrochemical use
• Poisoning in herbivorous animals
• Fire hazards

Potential to Improve

• Fair
• BMPs are known and reduce input use and runoff in developed countries
• New varieties reduce soil degradation
• Many producers are poor and not well integrated into the market or extension systems
• Pests are a major problem for poor farmers
  

Source: FAO 2002. All data for 2000.