Afro-Kai halts buying sorghum
Jan 16, 2007
A decision by Afro-Kai not to buy sorghum (<i>Epurpur</i>) from farmers from July to August has angered them and threatens the promising project.
By James Odomel
A decision by Afro-Kai not to buy sorghum (Epurpur) from farmers from July to August has angered them and threatens the promising project.
Afro-Kai buys the sorghum on behalf of Nile Breweries. The sorghum is used to make Eagle Lager, Uganda’s highest selling beer.
“We met our quota for one year from last year’s season’s. This stock will be sufficient up to December. For the second season of July 2006 to February this year, we shall buy the entire crop from farmers that we distributed the seed to directly and who have proof that Nile Breweries recommended prices at sh300 per kilogramme,†Afro-Kai’s general manager Chris Balya said in an interview.
“Nile Breweries is not fair. After abandoning all other crops and concentrating on sorghum, they are turning against us. We are angry,†a farmer said.
Balya said the sorghum should comply with quality specifications at the time of distribution.
“Farmers should consult us or sub-agents on alternative crops they could plant during this season for which we have a guaranteed market. We shall not distribute Epurpur seeds for the season starting February to March 2007,†Balya added.
He said production has consistently improved with harvests shooting to about 6,000 tonnes from 600.
Nile Breweries’ human resources director, Kenneth Wanyoto, however, said the Government should charge a favourable excise duty on Eagle Lager.
The Government recently raised the excise duty on the brand from 20% to 30%.
The Epurpur variety of sorghum was developed in 1994 by Serere Animal and Agricultural Research Institute.
The institute teamed up with Nile Breweries to multiply Epurpur foundation seeds on 27.5 acres during the first cropping season.
A decision by Afro-Kai not to buy sorghum (Epurpur) from farmers from July to August has angered them and threatens the promising project.
Afro-Kai buys the sorghum on behalf of Nile Breweries. The sorghum is used to make Eagle Lager, Uganda’s highest selling beer.
“We met our quota for one year from last year’s season’s. This stock will be sufficient up to December. For the second season of July 2006 to February this year, we shall buy the entire crop from farmers that we distributed the seed to directly and who have proof that Nile Breweries recommended prices at sh300 per kilogramme,†Afro-Kai’s general manager Chris Balya said in an interview.
“Nile Breweries is not fair. After abandoning all other crops and concentrating on sorghum, they are turning against us. We are angry,†a farmer said.
Balya said the sorghum should comply with quality specifications at the time of distribution.
“Farmers should consult us or sub-agents on alternative crops they could plant during this season for which we have a guaranteed market. We shall not distribute Epurpur seeds for the season starting February to March 2007,†Balya added.
He said production has consistently improved with harvests shooting to about 6,000 tonnes from 600.
Nile Breweries’ human resources director, Kenneth Wanyoto, however, said the Government should charge a favourable excise duty on Eagle Lager.
The Government recently raised the excise duty on the brand from 20% to 30%.
The Epurpur variety of sorghum was developed in 1994 by Serere Animal and Agricultural Research Institute.
The institute teamed up with Nile Breweries to multiply Epurpur foundation seeds on 27.5 acres during the first cropping season.