Delta in 18,000 MT barley deal with farmers

Harare - Beverage manufacturer, Delta Corporation Limited said it has contracted farmers to produce 18 000 metric tonnes of barley this winter season from 46,000 tonnes produced last year.

Barley is a whole-grain food, consumption provides several health benefits. It is high is soluble fiber and can reduce blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels. It's also low in fat.

It is mainly used to make particular distilled beverages, beer and different health food components.

Delta company secretary Alex Makamure said his company contracted 42 farmer this season and there ware looking forward to increase them if demand of beer increase and find export malt to reduce stocks.

"This year we contracted 42 famers and we are looking forward to increase the contracts once Delta finds an export market for malt to reduce current stocks of barley (50,000 tonnes which is cover for 2 years) and an additional 18,000 tonnes expected from current crop."  

"We previously reported significant success of the barley scheme where farmers have improved yields from about 2,5 tonnes per hectare in 2008 to the 6,5 tonnes achieved in the 2013 season," said Makamure in response to enquiries by this paper.

Barley farming contract is targeted at the subsistence and small scale farmers who have been part of the Chibuku value chain for many decades.

He however said the demand of beer has reduced by 20% since last year following n excise rate from 40% to 45% resulting in an increase of retail prices.


Makamure said barley farmers face numerous challenges including liquidity challenges, power supply issues, cost of utilities (water and electricity), unavailability of long term financing for recapitalisation.