China's sorghum is nearly lost, but it is grown in large quantities in the United States and eventually exported to China
Foreword As an important plant, sorghum plays an extremely important role in China. Sorghum has been an integral part of Chinese food culture since ancient times. However, with the changing times, sorghum cultivation in China is also facing difficulties and challenges. While China is gradually reducing its sorghum cultivation, the United States is expanding its sorghum cultivation and exporting most of its production to China. This contrast raises questions and questions: Why is China no longer growing sorghum, but the United States is so interested? This article examines the current situation and reasons for sorghum cultivation in China and the United States, and leads readers to demystify this controversial topic.
The glorious history of Chinese sorghum.
Sorghum used to be farmland in China"Star crop"It plays an important role in China's long history of agricultural development. As early as the Ming Dynasty, sorghum made full use of its drought-resistant and barren-tolerant characteristics and became a widely cultivated crop. Especially in the 50s to 80s of the 20th century, sorghum was one of the main cereals in the Northeast Plains region and was widely used in the production of grain, beer, and animal feed. At that time, sorghum produced about 25% of the total production and was one of the indispensable crops. However, with the change of the times and the change of people's tastes, sorghum has gradually withdrawn from the stage of Chinese history.
In the eyes of farmers, the taste and nutritional value of sorghum is one of the main reasons for its withdrawal from the market. Sorghum tastes a little astringent, even a little bitter, and there is indeed a gap with the delicate sweetness of grains such as wheat and rice. With the improvement of economic level and people's demand for flavor, people are more inclined to eat grains with delicate taste and strong aroma, so sorghum has gradually lost its market competitiveness. In addition, the instability of sorghum yields is also one of the reasons for its gradual phase-out. Sorghum is weak in its resistance to pathogens, and major diseases such as smut have seriously affected the growth and yield of sorghum. In areas where sorghum is grown, the incidence of smut is as high as 70%, causing huge economic losses to farmers. In contrast, modern crops have seen significant improvements in yield and disease resistance, so it makes sense to phase out sorghum.
Sorghum cultivation in the United States.
In stark contrast to the gradual decline of sorghum in China, the United States has made great strides in the development of sorghum cultivation. As the world's second-largest producer of sorghum and the largest exporter of sorghum, the United States has made great strides in sorghum cultivation. So, why did the U.S. choose to grow sorghum on a large scale?
Geographically and economically, the United States has unique advantages in growing sorghum. The western United States is a barren, arid, and saline land that is not suitable for growing traditional crops such as wheat and corn on a large scale, and sorghum is well adapted to this environment. By growing sorghum, these can be fully utilized"Idle"improve land utilization rate and agricultural production efficiency. In addition, the United States has a higher level of agricultural mechanization, and sorghum is planted and harvested more efficiently and effectively, which can reduce labor costs and improve the efficiency and quality of agricultural production.
In addition to self-digestion, most of the sorghum grown in the United States is exported to China. In 2022, for example, China's sorghum imports increased by 165 compared to the previous year6% to 953520,000 tons. This shows that China's demand for sorghum is still huge. By exporting sorghum, the U.S. not only creates economic value, but also indirectly reduces dependence on energy sources such as oil, improving the country's energy security and sustainability. Sorghum can be used not only as a food raw material, but also in the manufacture of products such as ethanol, with a wide range of uses and market potential.
A combination of Chinese and American sorghum cultivation.
By analyzing the current situation of sorghum cultivation in China and the United States, we can see the differences and commonalities in the field of sorghum cultivation in different countries. In the past, China was the main grower of sorghum, but with the development of the economy and the improvement of people's living standards, sorghum has gradually withdrawn from the grain market and has been replaced by finer and richer grains. On the other hand, the United States, by virtue of its geographical and economic advantages, has vigorously developed sorghum cultivation and has become a major producer and exporter of sorghum in the world. With sorghum, the United States has not only filled the gap in the western land, but also increased its economic income and international influence by exporting to countries such as China.
Conclusion: Whether it is China or the United States, sorghum, as an important food crop, shoulders the mission of national agricultural economic development. China has gradually reduced sorghum cultivation, mainly due to its disadvantages in terms of flavor and yield, while the United States has made full use of its own resources and technological advantages to vigorously develop sorghum planting and become a major sorghum country in the world. In the future, with the development of science and technology and the evolution of social needs, the status and role of sorghum will continue to change, and we hope that sorghum can radiate new vitality and make greater contributions to human food security and economic development.