Sorghum Diseases in India

keting problems, absence of financing schemes,
damage from pests and diseases, and poor postharvest
technologies. Farmers have expressed
willingness, however, to produce sorghum if
these problems are remedied (Clarete 1984, Oliva
1986). Growing sorghum as a feed grain will
definitely offer great benefits to farmers considering
the recent necessity for imports of maize
by the Philippine government (Alunan 1988).
Sorghum can augment feedmillers' supplies.
PHILCOSORI
On 18 Nov 1987, House Bill No. 3752-also
known as the Corn and Sorghum Act of 1987was
filed in Congress (Lower House of representatives)
by Congressman R.B. Gutang of the
1st District of Catabato.
36
40
30
20
10
0
Supply
Feed/waste
Seed
Cropping season
Figure 1. Sorghum supply and use in the Philippines, 1970/71 to 1984/85 cropping seasons
Source: Ferrer and Almeda (1986).
The bill provides for the establishment of the
Philippine Corn and Sorghum Research Institute
(PHILCOSORI), proposed for the University of
Southern Mindanao at Kabacan, Cotabato. If
and when the bill is approved, PHILCOSORI
will ensure the funding for maize and sorghum
research and development.
Sorghum Pathology
During the First International Workshop on Sorghum
Diseases, at Hyderabad, India, in December
1978, Dalmacio (1980) reported 13 diseases
affecting sorghum in the Philippines. In terms of
incidence or of new diseases recorded, changes
in the sorghum pathology situation in the country
are minimal.
The diseases considered as limiting to sorghum
production are, as they were in 1978, Phy-