By Lyzzie Owade

Sorghum farmers in Central and Kisii have gained a big lead in sorghum yields due to a high-yield, drought-resistant seed from Dutch seed company Barenbrug, as productive as the country’s formerly highest yielding sorghum seed from Kenya Seed & Simlaw that is only for highland farmers with high rainfall.

The Dutch Bargrazer and Kenyan Highland seeds are each delivering up to 20 bags of 90kg per acre, which is more than twice the yield possible from the country’s remaining medium-water and drought seeds. But the Highland requires 600m of rainfall a year, compared with Bargrazer’s 200-250mm. and requires a month longer to mature, at five months.

For farmers outside Central and the Highlands, we have reviewed the remaining sorghum options, with the best option for arid and semi-arid areas being Kalro’s Mtama sorghum, at yields of 13-15 90kg bags per acre.

Farmgate prices for sorghum can vary widely, from as low as Sh35 per kg to Sh80 per kg, delivering Sh63,000 to Sh144,000 an acre with the highest yielding seeds, but incomes as low as Sh25,000 for the lowest yielding seeds.

Sorghum seeds by yield 

1. Highland E1291

Produced by Kenya Seed Company Ltd and Simlaw

Maturity: 5 months

Yield per acre: 15–20 bags of 90kg

Rainfall needed: 650mm

Disease resistance: High resistance to anthracnose and downy mildew

Where grown: Nakuru, Baringo, Laikipia, Naivasha, Narok, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Kuria, Kericho, Trans Mara, and Taita Taveta

Where to buy:Simlaw 2kg for 490/=, Tropika 2kg @ 528/= and 1kg @ 264/=

Source:Simlaw 

2. Bargrazer

Produced by Barenbrug

Maturity: 120 days

Yield per acre: 15–20 bags of 50kg

Rainfall needed: 200–250mm

Used in grazing livestock and making hay

Where grown: Central Kenya, Kisii County

Where to buy: Agroduka  2kg @ 1353/=, 5kg @ 3372/=

Source: : Agroduka

3. Kari Mtama

Developed by Kalro

Maturity: 3 to 4 months

Yield per acre: 13–15 bags of 90kg

Rainfall needed: 259mm per season

The grain is large and white in colour

Disease resistant: Good anthracnose resistance

Where grown: Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi, Makueni, Tharaka, Mbeere, Kilifi, Tana River, Marsabit, Moyale, and Kajiado districts

Where to buy: Upcoming in Simlaw

Source:  Kalro

4. Serena

Produced by Kenya Seed Company and Simlaw

Maturity: 3 to 4 months

Yield per acre: 12 bags of 90kg

Rainfall needed: 400–600mm

This is a brown-seeded variety

Disease resistant: Resistant to striga, rust, leaf blight, and grey leaf spot

Where grown: Elgeyo Marakwet, Siaya, and Baringo

Where to buy:  Simlaw at 460/= for 2kg

Source: Kenya Seed Company, Simlaw and dryland

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5. Seredo

Produced by Kenya Seed Company

Maturity: 3 to 4 months

Yield per acre: 12 bags of 90kg

Rainfall needed: 420–630mm

Disease resistant: Good resistance to tropical diseases like downy mildew and anthracnose

Where grown: Makueni, Kitui, Machakos, Coastal, and Rift Valley regions, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Makueni, Machakos, Baringo, Siaya, and Homa Bay

Where to buy: simlaw at 490/= for 2kg, Migori Farmers Agrovet 0720702064 650/= for 2kg

Source: Simalaw , M-Tolori

6. Gadam

Developed by Simlaw Seeds, Kenya Seed Company Ltd., and East African Seed Company

Maturity: 85–90 days

Yield per acre: 8 bags of 90kg

Rainfall needed: 250–400mm

Disease resistant: High resistance to downy mildew

Where grown: Machakos, Kitui, Mweiga, Makueni, Tharaka, Mbeere, Kilifi, and Tana River counties, as well as drier areas of the Coastal, Rift Valley (Baringo, West Pokot), and Western regions

Where to buy: Simlaw  2kg at 490/=, Agroduka  2kg 440/=, armers world ltd

Source: Kalro

These seeds are suited by rainfall, as:

High water (above 600mm)

• Highland E1291 (650mm)
  

Medium water (400–600mm)

• Serena (400–600mm)
  
• Seredo (420–630mm)
  

Drought resistant (below 400mm)

• Bargrazer (200–250mm)
  
• Kari Mtama (259mm)
  
• Gadam (250–400mm)