Descriptionof the technology or innovation

Barley, the grain traditionally used forbrewing most beer brands, has become more now expensive than ever before. Gadamis a local drought tolerant sorghum variety adapted to marginal areas (Figure1.10). It is fast-growing, produces multiple tillers, and grain has softendosperm and good malting quality. In 2009, East African Breweries signed acontract with the KALRO seed unit and Western Seed Company to produce the Gadamsorghum seed to be distributed to 25,000 farmers in eastern Kenya (Embu,Machakos, Makueni and Meru counties) which is largely semi-arid. The targetdemand by the brewery company is 240,000 metric tonnes of Gadam sorghum grainper year, which is almost double the total production of sorghum in Kenya. Thetechnology is targeting Gadam production in other regions of Kenya and isapplicable in all countries in ECA.

Scaling-upapproaches

Farmers—Lack of markets for sorghumproducts has been an impediment to sorghum production. However, with governmentand private sector initiatives, the farmers in the ASAL areas are now turningto Gadam sorghum to reap the benefits of its use in beer production by puttingmore farms under Gadam. Farmers have ready market for their crop.

Brewery company—The company is cuttingcosts of imp production. The cheaper sorghum-based beer will also allow thecompany to capture a huge chunk of the bottom end of the market brewers.

Government—Thegovernment will save foreign exchange used to import barley -and improve theeconomic well-being of millions of poor farmers in these regions as it offersthem a ready market for their product include: 1) clean and pure seeds forfarmers to use in planting. Farmers should have access to quality seeds forproduction of the selected varieties to enable them fetch good market pricesfor the crop; 2) Banks that continue supporting farmers with softloans as working capital so that sorghum in large quantities; 3) Stepped-upextension services—crop management information requires efficient extension inthe productivity of the crop; 4) Targeting small-scale farmers, particularlywomen and youth who form the majority of sorghum growers in the ASAL; 5)Markets, and land for production.

In 2009 production in eastern Kenya wasabout 10,000 tonnes only while the demand from the brewery company in the countryis 240,000 metric tonnes per year. Further, the company has plans to launch anew brand beer brewed from sorghum by end of 2011 and therefore there will bean expanded market for Gadam sorghum.

With proper technical advice and theright varieties, farmers can increase production and exploit the growingdemand.

The currentchallenges that farmers face can be addressed through: 1) political stability;farmers must be able to carry out their farming activities where security isguaranteed by the government; 2) cost of inputs. Inputs such as fertiliser andpesticides should be readily available in the market; and 3) it has provedvital for farmers to form groups for crop production in order to attract highprices.

Farmers who belong to farmer’sorganisations were found to adopt technology faster than those who do notbelong to any such organisation. In addition, the more youthful, and femalefarmers, are more interested in sorghum production than men.

•    Sorghumjust like maize can be grown as a pure stand or in mixed cropping. Pure seedsof a variety can be bought or donated by a seed company.

•    In thecase of Gadam sorghum, East African Breweries signed a contract with the KALRO seedunit and Western Seed Company to produce the Gadam sorghum seed to bedistributed to farmers in the eastern region of the country which is largelysemi-arid. For example, during the short rains, the seed companies distributedGadam seeds to over 25,000 small-scale farmers for planting in 17 districtswithin region.

•    In orderto improve on yield from the current famers yield to a range between 1 to 1.3tonnes, or even up to 2.5 tonnes per ha, proper management practices must beused. Planting with fertiliser and top dressing increases the yieldsubstantially.

•    Therefore,farmers growing the crop should know the phases of sorghum production includingplanting, management, and marketing of the crop.

•    Birds andinsect damage must be controlled appropriately.

Nameand address of the organisation:

Kenya Agricultural Livestock and ResearchOrganization;

P. O. Box 57811;

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel: +254-20-4183301-20;

Fax: +254-20-4183344;

Mobile: +254-722 206 988, 722 206 986,733 333 223, 733 333 224

Email: director@karlo.org;

Nameand address of presenter:

Dr Joel Mutisya,

P. O. Box 14733 00800;

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel: +254 20 4444137;

Fax: +254 20 4444137;

Mobile: +254 721 704605

Email: jmjoel2002@yahoo.com;

Nameand contact address of key scientist:

Mr John Sitieney;

P. O. Box 14733 00800;

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel: +254 20 4444137

Fax: +254 20 4444137

Mobile: +254 726433325

Email: johnsitieney@yahoo.com

Nameand contact address of key partners:

Africa Harvest Biotechnology FoundationInternational;

P. O. Box 642-00621;

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel: +254 20 7121653

Fax: +254 20 7124078

Mobile: +254 724256977

Email: www.ahbfiTelephone:.org;