Domestic production of staple sorghum has significantly declined over the past three
decades due to inadequate or erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts. This has in turn
led to rapid urbanisation1
, as people became increasingly reliant on cash
employment2
. Associated with urbanisation were increased imports of sorghum and
other cereals such as maize, rice, wheat and their worked products, and most likely,
changing consumer habits in favour of the more refined and easily available exotic
cereals.
The relative tolerance of sorghum to the adverse climatic conditions (semi-arid) of
Botswana make it an important food crop for the local people. It is therefore logical
to focus efforts on encouraging domestic production, processing and utilisation of
sorghum in the country. It is for this reason that an EU sponsored project entitled
“Collaborative Project to Investigate Consumer Preferences for Selected Sorghum and
Millet Products in the SADC Region of Africa” was implemented to identify
constraints and opportunities for enhanced utilisation of the crop in the country. This
paper reports mainly on the study which was undertaken under this project to identify
consumer attitudes to sorghum products, in relation to other cereal products, in
selected urban and peri-urban areas of Botswana. The report also captures some
findings about consumer preferences for sorghum products revealed by other studies
undertaken through the stated project.