It resists drought well, requires little water and pesticides, is virtuous for other crops... On paper, sorghum has it all.
This cereal, very present in West Africa, is gradually gaining a place in Île-de-France and Oise.
As with this farmer from Yvelines, who adopted her three years ago.
“I got into it for the sake of diversification and for a question of agronomy, because it is a spring crop from which we can make wheat with interesting yields, justifies Thierry Maillier, also mayor of Boissets, to the limit of Eure-et-Loir.
It also cleans up the soil.
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"Sorghum is growing a lot in the territory, especially since so far we have not encountered any problems with diseases or insects", confirms the circle of Houdan farmers.
And above all, this culture offers outlets.
Its grains end up in animal feed, especially for pig and poultry farms.
“All this is new for us, so we are groping”
This market, even if it offers average profitability, provides income.
“The diversification of cultures, it allows to limit the risks”, resumes Thierry Maillier, who also grows beets but who stopped hemp, for lack of being able to sell it.
The farmer thus devotes just over 10 hectares to this new production, ie 7 to 8% of his total agricultural area.
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However, all is not perfect.
"All of this is new to us, so we are groping around," admits the Yvelin farmer.
Because it is accustomed to more southern regions, this cereal saw certain varieties disappoint, with poor performance last year, on late sowing and because of a cold summer.
“As with all cultures, everything depends on the vagaries of the weather.
There is no miracle culture.
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