Crop rotation is the first step to any sustainable farm practice

In an exclusive interview with Diplomatist, Mr. Nate Blum, CEO of Sorghum United Foundation, shares insights into the potential for collaboration between India and global agricultural stakeholders to promote sorghum and millets. With India being one of the largest producers of these climate-resilient grains, Mr. Blum highlights the importance of leveraging technology, sustainable farming practices, and value chain enhancements to empower Indian farmers. The conversation also explores the role of technology and innovation in strengthening India’s millet value chains, promoting diet diversification, and addressing food security challenges. Mr. Blum offers actionable insights on how India and the U.S. can collaborate to promote climate-resilient agriculture, particularly in dryland farming, where sorghum plays a vital role.

India is one of the largest producers of sorghum and millets. How do you see the potential for collaboration between Sorghum United and Indian agricultural stakeholders?

The Sorghum United Foundation does a lot of work in India. And we have an office in Varanasi. We continue to build collaborations with Indian research institutions, universities, farmers groups (FPOs), and more for the purposes of promoting local value addition and researching field to market trials. India is ahead of most peer countries in terms of the promotion and processing of millets for food, but adoption remains a challenge and a general lack of mechanization technology is a hurdle. Our Field to Market trials are, in part, designed to help bridge those gaps.

With India’s focus on millets through initiatives like the International Year of Millets 2023, how can global organizations like yours contribute to enhancing productivity and market access for Indian farmers?

The Sorghum United Foundation was heavily involved in the International Year of Millets. In fact, we sit on a Private Sector Mechanism (advisory board) to the Committee on Food Security at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as a result of that event. Taking the ‘millets message’ outside of India and introducing the grains to consumers in other countries is a key part of the Sorghum United Foundation Mission. This must be done in ways that cater to local and regional palates and emphasise the health, nutrition, and climate opportunities that these grains represent.

What are some best practices in sustainable sorghum and millet farming that India can adopt from global experiences?

Crop rotation is the first step to any sustainable farm practice. Remember, there is room on the plate for all grains. And even a monoculture cropping system that features sorghum is not desirable. Precision agriculture, water conservation, and cautious applications of fertilizers and pesticides is also important. Remember also that economic sustainability is important. The Sorghum United Foundation has a core mission of promoting local value addition for local farmers to access high-value local markets. This requires infrastructure, support, and entrepreneurial training.

How can India and the U.S. collaborate to promote climate-resilient agriculture, particularly in dryland farming where sorghum plays a crucial role?

One area in which our two countries can work together includes better quantification of the carbon sequestration that sorghum and millets provide. This will allow for carbon market opportunities for farmers, and measurable goals on climate change. We also need to hold hands in addressing the nutrition challenges that the youth in both of our countries face. Stunting and other nutrition-related deficiencies can be alleviated by including sorghum and millets in school and youth diets.

What role do you see for technology and innovation in strengthening India’s sorghum and millet value chains?

The role of technology is key. Farmers need access to locally produced small scale mechanization for planting, harvesting, and threshing. In my many visits to farms in India, these keys are sorely lacking. The good news is that India has many good fabricators. And FPOs can be leveraged for joint ownership and maintenance of equipment. We know what those models look like, are actively interested in working with private-sector partners on the ground to demonstrate them.

Given India’s growing focus on food security and nutritional needs, how can sorghum contribute to addressing malnutrition and diet diversification?

The nutritive comparison of sorghum and millets to other ‘traditional’ grains like maize, wheat, and rice is staggering. Sorghum and millets are lower on the glycemic index (positively affecting diabetes and weight management), higher in many vitamins and minerals, and can be substituted in existing formulations to create healthier versions of known products. The polyphenol content in sorghum is also responsible for proven anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and heart health benefits. See the comparison chart below.

How do you see Indian startups and agribusinesses contributing to the global millet economy, and what synergies can be explored between Sorghum United and Indian enterprises?

Indian SME’s utilising sorghum and millets are well ahead of their peers. This is mostly thanks to the great advocacy that the Modi Government has provided for the grains. However, they are still largely SME’s. Additional supports for SME’s and entrepreneurs at a policy level are required to take them a step further. I would also encourage Indian companies to consider catering their formulations and offerings to non-Indian palates to avoid being only niche products in foreign markets.