Sorghum becomes increasingly popular. Farmer: “The results remain good even during drought”
The dry periods of recent years have driven some farmers to seek crops that can better withstand climate change. In Orhei District, two entrepreneurs decided to abandon traditional crops and planted sorghum for the first time—a plant almost forgotten in Moldova but with significant agricultural potential. The farmers harvested enough to feed the 160 cattle they raise at their local farm.
The initiative of Valeriu Scorpan from Pelivan village and Iurie Cebotari from Brăviceni, Orhei district, turned into a successful experiment.
“This year we started with 60 hectares. We have already stored about 90% of it as silage. The results are excellent. We have around 3,000 tons of silage prepared for winter. Next year, if we start irrigating part of the land, the results will be even better,” said farmer Valeriu Scorpan.
“Around 50–60 tons per hectare. The results are very good for sorghum, even in drought conditions, without irrigation or fertilizers,” noted farmer Iurie Cebotari.
Researchers who analyzed the farmland in Orhei believe sorghum is the crop of the future. It uses half as much water as wheat, withstands temperatures above 35 degrees, and stays green when other crops dry out.
“It can successfully replace corn, which has shown low productivity in recent years due to climate change. This plant uses 30–40% less soil moisture, resists lodging, and remains unaffected by diseases and pests,” said agricultural science expert Gheorghe Moraru.
“Sorghum has a major advantage over other crops because it does not contain gluten, a substance that increasingly causes health problems for many people today,” stated Corneliu Mîrza, director of the National Sorghum Institute.
Learn more about how the farmers from Orhei adapted to climate change, expanded their cattle business, and other success stories on the program “Pământ și oameni” on Moldova 1 TV, Sunday, October 12, starting at 2:00 p.m.
