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: 19 March 2018; Hits: 13123

Beer maker contracts 500 Kisumu farmers to grow white sorghum

White sorghum variety.

East African Brewers Limited (EABL) has contracted over 500 farmers from Kisumu to grow white sorghum for their Senator Keg beer brand production. This will see each farmer earn about Sh768,000 at the end of this season against the meagre amounts the farmers would earn from their subsistence farming a season.

The brewer leased 3,500 acres of land from 500 members of community at Siany Okana Farm in Kisumu targeting to harvest over 12,000 tonnes of white sorghum by August ahead of the launch of it Kisumu plant in September this year.

In addition, EABL will also contract more farmers from Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya and Busia countries to improve their supply. Senator Keg production is expected to be 100 million litres annually.

“We have leased the land from members of the community in an initiative that will see the company cater for all the costs of production from planting to harvesting and finally pay farmers Sh32 a kilo from the sorghum,” said Omondi Kasidhi, head of sustainable agriculture sourcing at EABL.

The five-year contract with the farmers will see the farmers al so enjoy from cultivating food crops from the part of the land such as maize beans and green grams further eliminating food insecurity in the area.

“This contract as per the Nairobi Stoke Exchange listed firms is part of deepening socio-economic benefits to the rural population that only relies on cultivation of food crops in small quantities for consumption,” said Kasidhi.

The programme according to EABL will by far create and increase a robust supply chain adding to the establishment of a sustainable socio-economic environment as spurred by agriculture in the society as the company plans to introduce modern farming techniques to improve yields of ingredients for the manufacture of their alcohol brands.

With the company’s Kisumu plant launch set for September, there is more hopes that this will provide employment for hundreds of local people, the county government has assured EABL the upgrade of roads in the region that they may ease transport all time.

EABL is currently supplying over 20,000 Senator Keg bars selling the brand across the country.

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: 19 March 2018; Hits: 39225

Nairobi exporter urgently buying fresh green chilli from farmers

A Nairobi based company; Golden Solutions is looking for a steady supply of at least two tonnes of fresh green chilli per day from all-comers.

Currently, the company is facing a shortage of six tonnes of the produce per week and is seeking for farmers to bridge this gap.

“At the moment, we are looking for farmers who can supply us with a minimum of 0.5 to one tonne of chilli per day for export to Germany and the United Kingdom,” said Eric Wachira, the Procurement Manager at Golden Solutions.

“Our company was founded three years ago and has contracted over 30 farmers over the period; we pay Sh60 per kilogram of every chilli supplied, however, the price may vary and may go up to Sh80 depending on the demand,” said Wachira

Milk chilling plant changes fortunes of 6800 Rift farmers

Time your chilli for maximum profits on high global demand

Chili is an all-season crop that can be planted at any time of the year. However, with the ongoing rains all over the country, farmers can take advantage to plant the crop. The normal planting season began in the first week of March and the rains are expected to continue until June according to the Kenya Meteorological department.

A farmer interested in supplying chilli to the company has to partner with them from the initial stages of nursery establishment to harvesting. In this, the farmer receives advice on how to grow and enhance yields from an agronomist attached to Golden Solutions.

According to the Center for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI), an organization which is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya is one of the medium to large suppliers of chilli to the European Union majorly Germany, the UK and France.

chilli green fresh

Fresh green chilli in the farm

In 2016, Kenya exported approximately 3,000 tonnes of the product to the European Union. Besides Kenya, Morocco (19,100 tonnes) and Turkey (11,100 tonnes) were the leading non-European supplier of chilli peppers. Other medium to large suppliers to the EU include Serbia, India, Uganda and Macedonia.

The European Union imports of chilli from grew from a supply of 37,000 tonnes in 2012 to 45,000 tonnes in 2016, a 27 per cent increase.

In 2016, France was the largest importer of chilli from non-European countries accounting for 13,000 tonnes of the total imports. They were followed by the United Kingdom and Spain with six tonnes each, Germany with two tonnes and Netherlands with just one tonne.

Fresh green chilli is rich in vitamin C, an important element that improves the immune system. It is used to make food spices.

Farmers intending to venture into chilli farming can source seeds from Simlaw Seeds, a subsidiary of the Kenya Seed Company. Simlaw sells 10g at Sh50, 25g at Sh85, 50g at Sh160 and 250g at Sh600.

Eric Wachira can be reached on +254 710 834 650.

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Friday, 07 May 2021 [quote=Mary nyaga]Iam mary Nyaga from muranga kambiti. I can sell i ton per week...

Thursday, 06 May 2021 Iam mary Nyaga from muranga kambiti. I can sell i ton per week . Iam in need of ...

Wednesday, 07 April 2021 [quote=Kenneth mwongera]Kenneth from meru,we can deliver you more than 1 tonne[/...

Sunday, 14 March 2021 Kenneth from meru,we can deliver you more than 1 tonne

Tuesday, 01 December 2020 [quote=Karisa]I'm based in kilifi where can I sell to you pls call me on 0735292...

: 19 March 2018; Hits: 7784

Milk company to buy produce from over 160,000 farmers

milk measuring

Dairy processor attendat inspecting milk deliverde by farmers at a collection centre. Milk production and supply is expected to increase due to the onset of heavy rains which will increase forage and pasture grasses for livestock.

Dairy processor, Brookside has promised to continue procurement of all contracted milk volumes from over 160,000 farmers countrywide. This offers relief to the farmers as there is expected milk glut due to the current heavy rains which is anticipated to increase forage and pasture grasses for livestock.

Last week Kenya Meteorological Department warned of heavy rains that is already witnessed in various parts of the country. This is good news for livestock keepers who are set to enjoy enough pasture after a long period of dry season in the past months. However, this may translate to over production and supply of milk by dairy farmers.

According to the Kenya Dairy Board March 2016 report there was an over production and supply of milk that lasted for two months between the months of March and April due to the heavy rains. This saw processors hold more than 5,000 metric tonnes of powdered milk.

The report which was released in Marh last year further indicates that un-estimated volumes of milk delivered by farmers was poured at Olkalou Dairy cooling plant due to oversupply.

Brookside announcement therefore comes as a relief to dairy farmers across the country who see the current heavy rains as an indication of over production of milk that may flood the market in the next coming weeks thus they may miss to sell or sell at a lower price. Currently a litre of milk fetches Sh35 to Sh45.

“We are going to buy all volumes of milk from our farmers as per the contracts to save them from any wastage, this is part of the firm’s promise to provide stable market for its raw milk suppliers,” said Brookside Dairy Milk Procurement Director John Gethi.

The Ruiru-based processor has an installed processing capacity of 1.5m litres of milk per day, serviced by about 55 raw milk cooling stations across the country.

“This has no effect on our plan in procuring milk from our farmers as we promised, the company would continue to buy milk fully of all contracted volumes this season,” said Gethi.

“Brookside is at the moment doing major upgrades at both our milk cooling facilities and at the Ruiru processing house to allow us handle more milk as we expect from farmers this rainy season.”

Last year dairy farmers from Nandi County earned Sh33m from raw milk sales to the processor, indicating improved fortunes for the enterprise in the region. This was a reflection in income growth of Sh5m over payouts made by the company to farmers in 2016.

“We will also continue to provide training to dairy farmers throughout the country as this has greatly reflected in the improved production of quality milk from the farmers,” said Gethi.

The processor had also upgraded the operational capacity of its Eldoret station which is its milk bulking station serving Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties enabling it handle over 100,000 litres of raw milk per day.