India Needs and Wants US Sorghum

China has long been the top buyer of us sorghum, historically, accounting for 80 to 90% of exports, but after a sharp drop in November, down 84% year over year, the industry has been pushing to diversify. National Sorghum Producers Board Director Amy France on a new trade deal with India.

“We went with US Grains Council in January to India and met with many individuals in the poultry sector. And this is where we saw firsthand this battle between fuel and feed, and feed being specific to that poultry sector, and where sorghum is already non-GMO, we can clear that hurdle right off the bat and go straight into that Indian market. So the Indian market was saying, we not only want sorghum, but we need sorghum.”

France says it's a big win for sorghum.

“Representative Tracy Mann from Kansas, along with other congressional leaders, signed a letter and sent it over to USTR Ambassador Greer, saying, We have to focus on access for US sorghum into India. So, in this time of export issues that sorghum is having, this is something that is really important for sorghum producers to have is another player in the game, and we strongly think that that could be India.”