Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) has celebrated more than 500 barley farmers in the Sebei sub-region for their contribution to Uganda’s barley value chain. The celebration was held at the Nile Breweries Cheminy Drying Facility in Kween District under the “Cheers to Farmers” campaign.
It brought together farmers and local and national government officials to recognise outstanding farmers and share practices to help farmers increase yields and reduce post-harvest losses. NBL supports about 25,000 farmers over the years across Uganda to grow barley, sorghum, cassava and maize for the brewery, including around 4,000 barley farmers in the Kapchorwa highlands More than 98% of NBL’s raw materials are sourced locally, with annual spending on local sourcing of over UGX 156 billion.
According to Joseph Luzinda, the Agro Services Manager at NBL, the brewery procures about 10,000 metric tonnes of barley annually from farmers. He also noted that the brewery is working on a new variety of barley seeds in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO).
Through its Local Raw Material programme, the brewery provides access to improved seed, advice from agricultural field officers and a ready market for barley. Speaking during the celebrations, Sanjay Tanna, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, noted that a ready market gives farmers the confidence to invest in better production, while local processing creates further opportunities for employment.
“Nile Breweries’ investment in local sourcing demonstrates how agriculture and manufacturing can grow together. By providing a market for Ugandan crops and investing in local processing, the company is connecting farmers to industry and supporting opportunities for employment.
We appreciate the contribution this partnership is making to the country’s development,” the minister said.
Farmers in Sebei had previously faced
difficulties drying grain when harvesting coincided with the rainy season, affecting the quality required for malting. NBL’s partnership with growers has helped address this through investment in post-harvest handling.
The Cheminy barley cleaning and drying facility, opened by NBL in 2023 following a UGX 4 billion investment, now provides farmers in Kween, Kapchorwa and Bukwo districts with dedicated cleaning, drying and storage services.
These services help preserve the quality of locally grown barley and reduce farmers’ reliance on open-air drying.
“As we mark 75 years in Uganda, we recognise the farmers whose work supplies our breweries and sustains farming communities.
Our breweries depend on farmers being able to grow quality grain and make a living from it. That is why we work with farmers throughout the season, from access to seed and agricultural advice to the handling of their harvests. said Nkanyiso Mncwabe, Managing Director, NBL.
“Cheers to Farmers gives us a chance to thank our farmers and celebrate the progress we have made together. Their success matters to the long-term future of Nile Breweries and to the communities in which we work,” He added.
Extension officers led a practical training session on barley production, and NBL presented awards to the best-performing farmers. “Income from farming helps families here pay school fees and supports trade in our community. We appreciate Nile Breweries’ partnership with our farmers, particularly the ready market for barley and the Cheminy facility that helps preserve grain quality after harvest. This support is important to the livelihoods of families in our community,” said Kamuchaki Augustine, LC 1 Chairperson, Chemolon Cell.
“We thank Nile Breweries for the partnership it has built with farmers in Kween. Access to improved seed, agricultural advice and a ready market has supported our growers to produce and sell quality barley.
The Cheminy facility has helped address the drying and storage challenges farmers faced, and we appreciate this investment in protecting the value of their harvests,” said Paul Kapchemeiko Majinjach, LC V Chairperson, Kween District.
Chelimo Vinscent, the LCV Chairperson, Kapchorwa District called for increased support towards soil testing services to help farmers understand soil conditions and improve agricultural productivity. He also appealed for more initiatives to create employment opportunities for young people in the region.
Beyond crop production, NBL’s farmer programmes have also included training in budgeting, bookkeeping, saving and credit management. The support is intended to help farmers manage farm costs and plan how to use their earnings, alongside the agricultural advice and market access provided through the Local Raw Material programme.