India provides opportunity for US sorghum
India’s feed demand is exploding, driven by a poultry and dairy sector that is scaling up fast, and domestic grain production just cannot keep pace.
- India’s feed grain demand provides opportunity for US sorghum farmers.
- However, India still imposes a staggering 50% tariff on imported US sorghum.
- Relationship building is important to tap the Indian market.
India’s feed grain demand provides opportunity for US sorghum farmers, according to John Duff, Consultant to US’ National Sorghum Producers in a report.
“India comes up in every conversation about future growth. With almost one-fifth of the world’s population and a trajectory that will make it the second-largest economy by 2075, India is more than a market — it’s a long-term bet on the future of global agriculture. And if US sorghum has a growth story to tell, India is the chapter we haven’t finished writing yet,” he explained.
This is not about wishful thinking or some hypothetical future demand, he said.
In 2024, India became a net importer of coarse grains for the first time in modern history. Soaring feed demand—driven by a rapidly expanding poultry and dairy sector—has outpaced domestic grain production.
Mr Duff noted that India, home to one of the world’s largest feed industries, is now actively looking to international suppliers for help. Given India’s strict non-GMO import requirements, US sorghum stands out, not just as a good fit, but as one of the few viable options available.
Trade hurdles
India imposes a staggering 50% tariff on imported US sorghum, putting US sorghum farmers at a significant disadvantage relative to local grains and competitors with better trade terms, Mr Duff revealed.
Add in the absence of a published Pest Risk Assessment—something USDA has already submitted paperwork for—and “you’ve got a situation where demand exists, supply is ready, but the trade door remains frustratingly closed,” he said.
“Still, those of us in the sorghum business aren’t exactly new to hard roads. We’ve seen this play before in other market opportunities: ethanol, China, aquaculture. Each time, the strategy has been the same: Educate the customer, make the technical case, and stay present long enough to outlast the bureaucracy.”
| In early 2025, Mr Duff said that approach continued with a US sorghum trade mission to India, focused on education and relationship building. Kansas Sorghum, the US Grains Council and Kansas State University’s IGP Institute have all played key roles, and the groundwork is being laid. |
Most recently, Indian poultry stakeholders participated in a training program on how to incorporate sorghum into feed rations. A follow-up technical course is on the way, and feed trials are being planned with some of the country’s largest millers.
These efforts may not move the needle overnight, but they send a clear message: “We’re serious about helping India meet its needs.”
“In global markets, patience and presence count just as much as price and protein. And when it comes to feed grains, India’s not just looking for transactions — it’s looking for trusted relationships. We’re building those now, one meeting and one training at a time,” he stated.
Relationship building
“It’s easy to get discouraged by the pace of progress, but it’s worth remembering that the same was once said about ethanol. The same was said about China,” Mr Duff said.
“And in each case, when the moment came, sorghum was ready — not just with grain, but with partnerships, data and the staying power that only a crop with roots as deep as ours can offer.”
He believes that India’s path forward will not be quick, but the demand is real. The value proposition is clear. “And if we stay the course, doing what we do best — showing up, educating and building coalitions — we’ll find ourselves at the table when the door finally opens.”
“That’s a bet worth making. And for US sorghum farmers, it’s one we’re uniquely positioned to win.”
