Regional Analysis of Household Consumption of Sorghum in Major Sorghum-Producing and Consuming States in India-Working Paper Series no. 28.

In the past, studies that have analyzed household consumption data of the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) show a long term declining trend in per capita consumption of nutritious cereals such as sorghum and pearl millet both at National and State levels. However, a true picture can be drawn by looking at the household consumption data at a disaggregated regional level. Regional disaggregation of sorghum consumption shows that sorghum is still important in the consumption basket particularly in rural regions of central, eastern and western Maharashtra, and northern Karnataka. The NSSO data used for this analysis does not separate consumption by kharif (rainy season) and rabi (postrainy season) sorghum. The bulk of rabi sorghum is used for food consumption due to its superior grain quality, while only 40-50% of kharif sorghum is used for direct food use. The finding thus suggests that an increase in rabi sorghum production through productivity increase would help to bring down the prices of rabi sorghum and make its consumption affordable for low income consumers

Status and prospects of millet utilization in India and global scenario

Sorghum and millets are important cereals that play a significant role in the food and nutrition security of developing countries. Together, they account for 10% of Asia's coarse grain production. India is the largest-producer of sorghum and millets, accounting for over 80% of Asia's production. However, the yield levels in India are relatively low despite the adoption of improved cultivars and hybrids. The pattern of utilization for both sorghum and millets varies across countries/regions. In countries of Africa these crops are used primarily as food grain and form the staple particularly for the poor. In recent years the use of sorghum and millet grain for beer manufacturing is gaining in importance in Africa. In Asia In the last two decades their importance as food staples, particularly in Asia, has been declining due to various factors that include rising incomes, growing urbanization and government policies favouring the production and consumption of fine cereals like rice and wheat. However, the same factors are driving the demand for these crops in alternative uses like feed (cattle and poultry) and alcohol. For both the crops more than 50% of the production is now finding its way to alternative uses as opposed to its consumption only as a staple. The demand.for Value added / processed food products (being promoted as health foods) from sorghum and millets from urban consumers is also increasing albeit from a very low base. In the developed countries sorghum is used largely as a feed grain and millets are used as bird feed. Here too the demand for sorghum is closely linked to maize prices. Globally, sorghum prices generally track maize prices and are 15 -20% lower than maize prices historically. This paper highlights the utilization patterns of sorghum and millets globally with special emphasis on their use in India and future prospects to sustain their utilization particularly in Asia. The first section highlights the utilization pattern .of sorghum followed by millets in section 2. Conclusions and way forward are discussed in section 3..

Stabilization of Pickering Emulsions with Oppositely Charged Latex Particles: Influence of Various Parameters and Particle Arrangement around Droplets

© 2015 American Chemical Society. In this study we explore the fundamental aspects of Pickering emulsions stabilized by oppositely charged particles. Using oppositely charged latex particles as a model system, Pickering emulsions with good long-term stability can be obtained without the need for any electrolyte. The effects of parameters like oil to water ratio, mixed particle composition, and pH on emulsion type and stability are explored and linked to the behavior of the aqueous particle dispersion prior to emulsification. The particle composition is found to affect the formation of emulsions, viz., stable emulsions were obtained close to a particle number ratio of 1:1, and no emulsion was formed with either positively or negatively charged particles alone. The emulsions in particle mixtures exhibited phase inversion from oil-in-water to water-in-oil beyond an oil volume fraction of 0.8. Morphological features of emulsion droplets in terms of particle arrangement on the droplets are discussed

Future Outlook and Options for Target Crops: The Sorghum and Pearl millet Economy of India

More than 60% of the area in India is cultivated in arid and semi-arid conditions characterized by long dry seasons, inadequate and unpredictable rainfall and infertile and fragile soils, which provides around 40% of the food produced (Gulati and Kelley 2000). Farmers here are exposed to harsh agro climatic conditions, as they have to cultivate shallow and poor soils receiving low and erratic rainfall below 600 mm. Recurrent droughts coupled with frequent dry spells further exacerbate the situation. In the last few decades these regions are facing a shrinking natural resource base and land degradation, resulting in low productivity in crop and livestock sectors. This has contributed to increased poverty, malnutrition and indebtedness of smallholder farm families

Cardiovascular profile of patients with chronic kidney disease

Background: Frequency of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events increase even in early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study was aimed to understand the cardiovascular profile of patients with CKD.Methods: This observational study was conducted on patients who were admitted with chronic kidney disease in Sri Venkateswara Rama Narayan RUIA Government General Hospital, Tirupati. Patients were classified according to their severity of CKD. All patients had an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. Results of various biochemical investigations, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram were compared between patients with mild, moderate and severe CKD.Results: Combined diabetes mellitus and hypertension was found to be the most common case of CKD in Authors patient population (43%), followed by diabetes mellitus alone (37%). Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were found to be significantly higher and creatinine clearance and haemoglobin were significantly lower among patients with severe CKD. Electrocardiography revealed 50% had left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), 30% had tall ‘T’ waves and 15 % had ST-segment changes. Mean inter-ventricular septal end diastole thickness and mean left ventricular mass was found to be significantly in patients with severe CKD as compared to mild CKD.Conclusions: Extensive cardiovascular evaluation of patients with CKD is warranted even if the classical symptoms are not absent and early cardiovascular rehabilitation should be instituted in such patients

SWOT analysis of sweet sorghum ethanol value chain

In recent years there is considerable debate on alternative feedstocks for bioethanol production to meet the mandated blending requirements with fossil fuels (petrol). Worldwide, a number of feedstocks ranging from cereal grains to sugarcane juice to molasses (obtained from conversion of cane juice to sugar) are commonly being used. However, these feedstocks are being critically examined for their role in increasing food costs and compromising on food security. Sweet sorghum has emerged as an alternative crop whose stalks are converted into juice for ethanol production. Two models for conversion of sweet sorghum into ethanol have been pilot tested, ie., a centralized model (stalks supplied directly to the distillery for ethanol production) and a decentralized model where the syrup produced at village level is supplied to distillery for ethanol production. A number issues and strengths in using sweet sorghum as an alternative feedstock have emerged

Post-rainy season sorghum consumption in Maharashtra and opportunities for demand enhancement

For majority of the households living across Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT) (~f'Il1dia sorghum is an important staple in the consumption basket oJllOllseholds besides providingjeed and income security. By and large sorghum and particlllar~y post rain)' season sorghum is grown as subsistence crop under Itrw yield regimes. Hence, to address the issue of low yield\' a project on Harnessing Opportunitiesjbr Productivity Enhancement (HOPE) is envisioned to improve productivity o/post rain,V season sorghum and associatedfactors o/teclmology adoption and improve market access by International Crops Research Instilute Semi-Arid Tropics (IeR/SAT) and its partners. Improving market access requires carejid understanding of consumer choices, end-user preferences, processing options to improve product qllali~v and reduce householdfood processing time. In this context a detailed survey 011 sorghum consumption, its demand for variolls uses, consumer preferences, perception am:! price and non-price factors that determine the demandfor sorghum in human diets is carried out in Afaharashtra, (TH2stern and lvfarathwada regions) ojIl1dia, lvhich is predomillant~rsorghum growing and consuming region. Evidencefrom the stll{~V indicates that post rainy seaSon sorghum is a staplefhr consumption irrespective of household income but urban consumers are less frequent COllsumers as compared to their rllral counte/parts, Though urban hOllseholdr; perceive the importance (~lC0l1S11mptiol1 (~ll1l1triellt rich millets like sorghum, lack of time Jar cooking sorghum bread as both men and women are employed ill urbanlocatiolls; skill sels requiredfhr preparation; easy availability (~ldiversified ready to eat productsfram rice and lvheat; l1f>n-availability oJ diversified react" 10 eat products of sorghum have contributed to decline in its consumption, flidue addition (grading and cleaning) and development of divers~fied reiUtv to use value added products of sorghum (flow; rawa, flakes etc) are jbzmd to stimulate consumption demand. Sale of cleaned sorghum grain in small packs 1:\' desired by many urban consumers, Unlike barle;~finger millet and maize, private sector participation for development (~f value added products in sorghum is [OlV. Hence, development qf diversified read,.v to use products 'with private sector participation will enable in enhancing the demand for sorghum, product choice and l1utriceutical benefits for consumers and improve market access to farmer

Postrainy Season Sorghum Marketing in India: Constraints and Opportunities

Indian agricultural marketing systems function relatively well although a number of critical issues impinge on their efficient functioning. For example, markets in the hinterland are generally thin, localized and segmented - smallholders dominate the agricultural system and this leads to low marketed surplus. The process of price discovery is often non-transparent; markets are ‘multi-level’ with many intermediaries, leading to high transaction/marketing costs, so, to sell their produce, farmers are dependent on intermediaries to avail of credit facilities in interlinked markets (credit/ input and output markets). Lack of grading and storage facilities and lack of information on market intelligence...

An analysis of availability and utilization of sorghum grain in India

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is one of the major cereal crops consumed in India after rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). The crop is primarily produced in Maharashtra and southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. These three states together account for close to 80% of the all-India production. Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan are the other states producing sorghum. India is the third largest producer of sorghum in the world with 7.15 million tons during 2007 and almost entire production of sorghum (95%) in the country comes from the above regions/states (GOI 2007)

Availability and utilization of pearl millet in India

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most widely grown type of millet. Because of its tolerance to difficult growing conditions such as drought, low soil fertility and high temperature, it can be grown in areas where other cereal crops, such as maize (Zea mays) or wheat (Triticum aestivum), would not survive. Pearl millet production is concentrated in the developing countries which account for over 95% of the production and acreage. India continues to be the single largest producer of pearl millet in the world, although the area has been declining in the traditional growing states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana. Pearl millet is usually grown as a dryland dualpurpose grain and fodder crop although it is sometimes irrigated in India, particularly the summer crop grown mainly as a forage crop