Speaking during the release of Surghum production report, agriculture experts urged local brewers to consider sourcing sorghum locally to encourage production and increase farmers earnings
Currently the country produces 1.9 million bags of sorghum with majority of the production coming from small scale farmers who are majorly based Eastern and Nyanza region.
Of the total sorghum production only 25 percent is used for industrial production, this according to agriculture expert has led to stagnated sorghum production over the years.
To increase the highly nutritious sorghum, Tegemeo institute Director Miltone Ayieko wants farm inputs costs to be lowered and data on good sorghum farming practices shared to farmers to increase production.
Farmers were also urged to aggregate their produce to fetch better prices at the local markets.
East Africa breweries limited CEO Jane said her company is currently purchasing sorghum from farmers at 32 shillings per kilo and plans are underway to start purchasing 100 percent of their sorghum needs from local farmers.
The youth were urged to engage in the potential sorghum value chain as a way of creating additional employment.
Also Read: How to Grow Sorghum Successfully in Kenya