Sorghum farmers in the Lango sub-region have reported significant improvements in productivity and reduced post-harvest losses thanks to threshers donated by Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL).
The threshers, valued at Shs25 million, have enhanced efficiency and eased the labor-intensive process of sorghum threshing.
Speaking during an interaction with UBL representatives in Lira East, farmers highlighted how the machines have transformed their operations.
Tom Ongom, an elder and co-founder of the Abur Lango Farmers Cooperative Society, praised UBL for addressing the longstanding challenge of manual threshing.
“Unlike hand beating sorghum to get grains, the threshers have saved time and effort. Women, in particular, used to complain of body pains and itching from prolonged manual threshing. This year, I am optimistic farmers will earn more and produce more sorghum,” Ongom said.
Ongom also acknowledged UBL’s provision of high-quality seeds, which has supported increased sorghum production.
However, he urged the company to address the challenge of timely seed distribution and called for more sensitisation campaigns to encourage locals to embrace commercial agriculture for poverty alleviation.
According to Isaac Oret, Coordinator of the Abur Lango Cooperative Society, the introduction of threshers has eased the threshing and cleaning processes, alleviating physical strain for farmers.
“Threshing manually caused back pain and fatigue for many farmers. With these machines, we can process up to 10 bags per hour. This has significantly improved efficiency and productivity,” Oret noted.
He added that the cooperative has built its reputation in sorghum farming, with UBL providing a ready market at competitive prices.
“Currently, sorghum fetches at least Shs1,000 per kilogram, compared to maize, which goes for as low as Shs650. This ready market and favourable price have boosted farmers’ incomes,” Oret said.
Oret also called on UBL to assign local aggregators to facilitate better coordination within the region.
Sheila Sabune, UBL’s Corporate Relations Director, emphasised the company’s commitment to empowering farmers and ensuring high-quality raw materials through its “Farm for Success” program.
“Farmers are at the heart of our value chain. By providing these threshers, we address farming challenges while ensuring the quality of grains meets the standards required for our products,” Sabune said.
The threshers were introduced following complaints from farmers about the arduous manual threshing process, which often discouraged sorghum cultivation.
“Manual threshing could take two to three days for just a few bags, but with the threshers, farmers can now process 10 bags in an hour. This innovation has particularly benefited women, who were previously burdened by the labor-intensive process,” Sabune explained.
The “Farm for Success” program represents UBL’s broader initiative to support farmer communities. Annually, UBL invests Shs52 billion into the program, benefiting over 50,000 farmers in its value chain.
The initiative focuses on improving farming inputs, promoting best agricultural practices, and empowering farmers to achieve higher productivity and income levels.
