• Nigeria leads Africa with 6.6 million tons, ranking second globally

• Ethiopia and Sudan anchor East Africa’s strong production base

• Sorghum remains central to food, livestock, and local industries across the Sahel

Ethiopia launched a national plan on March 24, 2026, to increase its sorghum production, a move that could further strengthen its position among Africa’s top producers of the crop.

Sorghum is widely grown across sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Sahel countries, where it plays a key role beyond basic food consumption. Data from the Food Outlook report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in November 2025 highlights five countries that dominate production on the continent.

Nigeria

According to the FAO, Nigeria produced an average of 6.6 million tons of sorghum between 2021 and 2023, making it Africa’s largest producer and the world’s second-largest after the United States. In the continent’s most populous country, sorghum covers about 5.2 million hectares annually, ranking as the third most important cereal after corn and rice.

Grown mainly in the semi-arid northern regions, where rainfall is low and irregular and temperatures are high, sorghum serves multiple uses. It is a staple food—consumed as porridge, dough, fermented pancakes, or roasted grains—as well as livestock feed and a key ingredient in brewing.

AFEX Commodities Exchange, Nigeria’s leading private agricultural commodities exchange, estimated in 2023 that about 20% of the national sorghum harvest is used in the beverage and animal feed industries.

Ethiopia

Africa’s second-largest producer recorded an average annual output of 4.2 million tons between 2021 and 2023, according to FAO data. Sorghum is mainly grown in the Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara regions, covering more than 1.5 million hectares nationwide.

It ranks as the country’s fourth most important cereal after corn, wheat, and teff. In Ethiopia, sorghum is widely consumed as injera, porridge, and nifro (boiled grains), and is also used in traditional alcoholic drinks such as tella and areke. Beyond food, it is increasingly used in animal feed and small-scale processing, including flour, snacks, and baby food.

Sudan

Sudan ranks third, with an average annual production of 3.93 million tons between 2021 and 2023. Sorghum is cultivated on more than 6 million hectares each year, mainly in the states of Gadarif, Kordofan, and Darfur.

It is the only country in this ranking where sorghum is the primary cereal crop. The traditional dish kisra, made from sorghum, is a staple of the local diet. As in other African producers, the crop is also used for livestock feed, local beer production, and a variety of foods and porridges.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso produced an average of 1.8 million tons annually over the same period, making it one of West Africa’s key producers. Sorghum is mainly grown in the Boucle du Mouhoun, East, and Center-West regions, covering close to 2 million hectares each year.

Once the country’s leading cereal, sorghum has been overtaken by corn as production of the latter has improved. Still, it remains central to local diets, used to prepare dishes such as tô (a thick paste), couscous, fritters, flatbreads, and local beer (dolo), as well as syrups and biscuits. It is also consumed fresh or boiled.

Niger

Niger rounds out the top five, with average production of 1.66 million tons between 2021 and 2023. The crop is mainly grown in the regions of Niamey, Dosso, and Maradi, covering about 3.6 million hectares each year.

Sorghum is the country’s second most important cereal after millet, reflecting its key role in food security and rural livelihoods.