Mr. Sumaila Doho, Chief Executive Officer of Farmer Pride, an agri-business organisation based in the Upper West Region, is unhappy Ghana’s agricultural sector is missing out on a major industrial and export opportunity by neglecting large-scale sorghum seed production.
Mr. Doho, also the former Upper West Regional Best Farmer, called for a deliberate government policy to prioritise the development and commercialisation of sorghum as a strategic crop, citing its vast potential for food security, job creation, and industrial use.
“Sorghum is one of the country’s under-promoted but economically valuable cereal crops,” he said in an interview during a field visit to his farm at Duu. “It’s widely produced and consumed locally and internationally and serves as a key raw material for the food, beverage, and brewery industries”.
Mr. Doho noted that Sorghum, a drought-tolerant cereal crop, has multiple varieties with both local and industrial appeal, the creamy or white types particularly the Kapaala, Dorado, and Atokplechi varieties are highly sought after by breweries and food processing companies due to their superior grain quality.
For the 2025/2026 production season, Farmer Pride has dedicated 100 acres (40 hectares) to sorghum cultivation, projecting an average yield of 2.2 tonnes per hectare.
This output, he said, could produce enough certified seed to cultivate 550 acres (220 hectares) next season, showing the scalability and commercial potential of the crop.
The red sorghum varieties, meanwhile, are central to the traditional pito brewing industry among the Dagaaba, Gonja, and Kassena communities.
However, their production has declined significantly in recent years due to lack of investment, research, and improved seed supply.
Despite its potential, Ghana’s sorghum sub-sector remains stunted. Mr. Doho identified key constraints, including limited access to improved seed varieties, inadequate market linkages, and the absence of a government-backed framework to promote sorghum as an industrial commodity.
He lamented that poor grain quality has made it difficult for local farmers to meet brewery standards, forcing companies to rely on imports when domestic alternatives could easily fill the gap.
“To bridge this gap, we at Farmer Pride have started producing high-quality Kapaala sorghum seeds for both smallholder and commercial farmers,” he revealed.
“But we can’t do it alone, government incentives and policy direction are crucial if Ghana is to scale up production and attract private sector investment.”
Mr. Doho believes that integrating sorghum into Ghana’s agricultural development strategy could help diversify the country’s industrial base, reduce import dependency, and create new opportunities in the beverage, food processing, and livestock feed sectors.
“With deliberate effort and government backing, we can transform sorghum into a major industrial crop that supports farmers, creates jobs, and contributes significantly to Ghana’s agricultural economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, experts have long argued that sorghum’s resilience to harsh weather and low water requirements make it ideal for northern Ghana’s climate.
Its promotion could also support Ghana’s climate adaptation goals under the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.
As global demand for gluten-free and health-conscious food products continues to grow, stakeholders believe Ghana stands a strong chance of positioning itself as a regional hub for sorghum seed production if it acts decisively now.
