By Enock Okong’o .
Nyakach and Nyando residents in Kisumu County will benefit from a Sorgum Farming Project spearheaded by the East African Breweries Limited (EABL) in partnership with the County, which is meant to promote food security in the area.
The project is part of the EABL’s nationwide sorghum value chain open forum, aimed at encouraging farmers to grow white sorghum as both food and cash crop.
At the open forum held in Nyakach recently in partnership with Community Action for Rural Development (CARD), USAID and Cereal Growers Association, the farmers were given free seeds and free extension services.
EABL will then provide the market for the produce at a cost friendly to the farmer, a move meant to meet the increased demand for sorghum.
The demand for this crop rose following the removal of the excise tax, an element that drove up the demand for Senator beer – whose main ingredient is Sorghum.
Governor Jack Ranguma who presided over the forum said this is a rare opportunity for area farmers to make money.
“Agriculture is now a devolved function; therefore, I urge our farmers to take advantage of this initiative that will not only enhance their livelihoods because of the available market at EABL,” he said.
The Governor told school leavers to develop the right attitude towards Agriculture noting that employment in offices is competitive. He told them to form youth groups to enable the Government assist them with loans that will see them venture into small scale agro- business projects
EABL targets to recruit between 8,000 – 10,000 farmers in Kisumu County, with a potential to grow up to 5,000 tonnes of sorghum.
