KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Ministry of Agriculture says it is looking to identify arable lands on which to cultivate sorghum, a crop currently being mooted as a substitute grain for animal feed.

Agriculture minister Roger Clarke said that lands have already been identified at Amity Hall in St Thomas at one of the nine agro parks being developed across the island.

Clarke said that the Caribbean Broilers (CB Group) will be undertaking this planting exercise and that the land is currently being prepared.

“We’re targeting in that agro park, some 1,700 acres. They (CB Group) are moving now to put in 800 (acres)…and we’re trying to identify more lands. They have asked for some 6,000 acres…so the sustainability is there and we are determined to put whatever idle lands we have into production,” Clarke said.

The CB Group in collaboration with the ministry undertook a test project at its facility in Hill Run, St Catherine, to grow sorghum for feedstock as a replacement for imported corn.

“This was just an experimental plot, but the yield has been significant in terms of international standards and it’s just the beginning. This is just a start. What (CB Group) has learnt here is what will help them to improve in production and productivity as we go along,” Clarke said.

Sorghum, resistant to drought and dry weather, takes three to four months to reach maturity.

“We are not only dealing with sorghum. We are dealing with other crops. We are going to be doing probably over 600 acres of onions. We are already moving with Irish potatoes – a whole slew of things that we’re doing (to utilise arable lands),” Clarke said.