Sweet Sorghum will help farmers improve income: ICRISAT DG

Hyderabad, May 12 (UNI) International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Director General William Dar today said sweet sorghum, a multiple crop, will help smallholder farmers to improve their income by 20 per cent compared to alternative crops in dry areas in India.

In a statement here, he said, ''the crop will produce food, livestock feed and biofuel and provides an opportunity for developing countries to re-direct oil money to their own rural economies,'' ICRISAT, in partnership with Rusni Distilleries and some 791 farmers in Andhra Pradesh, helped to build and operate the world's first commercial bioethanol plant, which began operations in June 2007.

While sweet sorghum's stalks were used to obtain bioethanol, its grains could be used for food or fodder, the release added.

UNI VA SJ AK ND1808