Farmers turn to sorghum in new deal

East Africa Maltings Ltd General Manager, Lawrence Maina examines sorghum on Hon. Oburu Oginga's 70-acres sorghum farm in Bondo, Siaya County. Makers of beer who use sorghum, millet or cassava as their ingredients were spared higher taxes on Tuesday. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  Anita Chepkoech  &  NELCON ODHIAMBO

What you need to know:

  • The growers in Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay counties have re-introduced the once abandoned crop after the East African Breweries Ltd offered them a ready, lucrative market.
  • The region is largely known for sugarcane, cotton and groundnuts as cash crops with maize and beans done mainly on subsistence basis.
  • In Migori, sorghum came in handy for tobacco growers after the collapse of their major market.

Farmers in Nyanza region have turned to sorghum as an alternative cash crop.

The growers in Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay counties have re-introduced the once abandoned crop after the East African Breweries Ltd offered them a ready, lucrative market.

East African Maltings general manager Lawrence Maina said, “We have a target to provide up to 30,000 tonnes of sorghum in the next financial year, against the 18,000 tonnes that we currently get. The lake region has the potential of bridging that gap.”

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The brewer launched the programme in Kisumu in April planning to contract more than 10,000 farmers, but failed to reach their target, forcing them to extend to neighbouring counties.

This is despite the company offering incentives like free seeds and fertilisers, assured market and transportation of the produce to the market.

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The region is largely known for sugarcane, cotton and groundnuts as cash crops with maize and beans done mainly on subsistence basis.

He said the company offers the farmers the best price for their crop at Sh30 per kilogramme.

Already, nominated Senator Oburu Odinga, who is one of the farmers contracted by the company, has a 70-acre demonstration farm for white sorghum.

In Migori, sorghum came in handy for tobacco growers after the collapse of their major market.

“The Alliance One tobacco company, which used to be our biggest tobacco leaf buyer, is said to have moved to Uganda and Zimbabwe.

But sorghum has come in handy to fill the gap,” said Mr Elias Ouma, a farmer.

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The agreement

  • Farmers get free seeds and fertilisers and are assured of transport
  • Official says farmers get the best price for their crop at Sh30 per kilo
  • Brewer launched project in Kisumu then extended it to other counties

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