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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
RFI

French cereal farmers experiment with African sorghum to beat the heat

Ludovic Joiris (left) and Eudes Coutté in their fields of sorghum – a plant that requires far less water than maize.
Ludovic Joiris (left) and Eudes Coutté in their fields of sorghum – a plant that requires far less water than maize. © Orianne Gendreau / RFI

Europe's maize crops have been hit hard by this summer's heatwaves and ongoing drought, with French producers saying almost half of this year's harvest is unusable. To prepare for hotter, drier conditions, some cereal farmers are experimenting with sorghum – a crop from sub-Saharan Africa that requires less water than maize – although making a living from it remains a long way off.

Sorghum is the world's fifth most important cereal crop, after wheat, maize, rice and barley.

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