Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 20 ISSUE 3
Written by Agatha POPESCU
The paper analyzed the status of Sorghum cultivated area, production and yield at the EU-28 level and in each producing country in the period 2008-2019, and then the forecast for these indicators was estimated for the horizon 2020-2024. Fixed index, trend line, descriptive statistics and regression modeling were used to process the data. The cultivated surface with sorghum in the EU reached 197 thousand ha in 2019, being almost double than on 2008. The cultivated area with Sorghum increased in all sorghum producing countries: France, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Greece, except Spain and Slovakia were it remained constant. The largest cropped areas are in France, Italy and Romania, accounting for 76%. Sorghum output doubled its figure and in 2019 reached 1,019 thousand tons. About 91% of production being achieved by France (431), Italy (312), Hungary (117) and Romania (68). The EU yield was 5,179 kg/ha, but higher yields were recorded by Austria, Italy and France. In 2024, it is estimated that the EU will produce 1,045 thousand tons sorghum. Production will increase in Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, will decline in France and Hungary and will remain constant in Spain and Slovakia. The EU will continue to pay attention to this crop as a response to climate change. The main purposes of sorghum being animal feed, biomass for bio-fuels, raw material in food industry, component in crop rotation, maintenance of biodiversity and environment preservation.
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