Sorghum market
by Mwangi Mumero
East African Breweries (EABL) has extended its
commercial sorghum growing project to Siaya, Western Kenya in an effort to
secure more supplies for its low-cost beer brands.
The project is expected to boost earnings of farmers
in the region as the company provides a reliable market for their crop.
According to EABL officials, the company’s demand
for sorghum is high. Two sorghum varieties- Gadam and Sila- are hugely popular
with the company.
EABL has in the past few years increased its
partnership with sorghum growers in various parts of the country as it seeks to
reduce reliance on the relatively expensive imported barley.
In 2011, the company launched a similar
sorghum-growing scheme in 17 districts in Eastern Province as part of an
overall plan to have more arid and semi-arid areas grow the plant to supply its
demand for raw materials.
The international price of barley stood at $212 per tone
last month compared to $190 per tone in December 2010, representing an increase
of 11.5 per cent.
The price of the
commodity is expected to remain high due to increased demand from rival
brewers. (Ends)
No comments:
Post a Comment