Commercialization Prospects for

Tanzania produces over 500,000 t of sorghum and 200,000 t of pearl millet1 per year. These are the second and fourth most widely grown cereal grain crops in the agricultural economy. Yet virtually the entire production is carried out on a subsistence basis. Less than 2 % of the harvest enters the formal market; the remainder is consumed on the farm. Thus, the main contribution of sorghum and pearl millet is to farm household food security. The lack of a commercial market has limited farmer interest in improving the management of these crops. As a result, average sorghum and pearl millet yields have changed little over the past 15 years. However, the area planted to these crops is still increasing. Continuing growth in the number of farmers in Tanzanias drought-prone semi-arid areas contributes to a 1 % average annual gain in planted area. It is difficult to explain why only limited quantities of sorghum and pearl millet are marketed. Tanzania generally imports grain, and commercial production of sorghum and pearl millet could reduce dependence on imports. The countrys sorghum and pearl millet yields are relatively high by African standards. And average sorghum grain prices in Dar es Salaam tend to be lower than those for maize