Nile Breweries Trains 450 Rwenzori Barley Farmers to Cut Post-Harvest Losses

Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) has equipped more than 450 barley farmers in Uganda's Rwenzori region with crucial skills in harvesting and post-harvest handling. The initiative aims to significantly reduce grain losses and enhance the overall quality and market value of their produce. Training sessions covered essential aspects such as crop maturity assessment, optimal harvesting times, drying techniques, threshing, moisture management, cleaning, grading, and proper storage methods.

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Farmers are the foundation of our value chain, and the quality of our beers begins with the quality of the crops they produce.

This training is a component of NBL's broader Local Raw Material Programme. Through this program, the brewery not only provides farmers with improved seed varieties and agronomic knowledge but also guarantees a ready market for their crops. Emmanuel Njuki, NBL's Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs, emphasized the integral role farmers play in the company's supply chain, stating that the quality of locally sourced crops directly influences the quality of NBL's final products.

While farmers expressed gratitude for the knowledge gained, they also highlighted persistent challenges impacting their profitability. Igisha Kirimunda, a barley farmer, noted that the training helped him understand factors contributing to low production but urged NBL to increase the price paid for barley. Farmers currently receive approximately Shs1,700 per kilogram, while the cost of seed alone is around Shs5,000. Joseph Mutanywana, an agent with the Rwenzori Barley Farmers Association, added that high land and labor costs, coupled with expensive transportation in the mountainous terrain, further strain profitability.

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I'm grateful for the knowledge given to me, but the prices for our crop is lower than the cost of production.

Despite these challenges, NBL remains committed to supporting barley cultivation in the Rwenzori region, where it sources over 95 percent of its raw materials locally. Bob Mutegeki, NBL's Agriculture Team Leader for the Western Region, confirmed that the company works with over 600 barley farmers but acknowledges low yields as a persistent issue. NBL is partnering with Enabel Uganda to enhance farmer skills and encourage increased barley production, recognizing its importance as a key ingredient for beer manufacturing.

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We had formed an association to collectively address some of the challenges and reduce dependence on support from buyers, but we still need help.