Sorghum was initially viewed as a crop for the poor and marginalized in the drought-prone arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya.

But now, sorghum is turning out to be the green gold that millions of Kenyans in those regions have been praying for, more so after the just-ended catastrophic drought that ravaged most of the country for nearly two years.

And it is all thanks to the good rainfall that graced most of the country in the fourth quarter of 2009, turning the much vilified sorghum into an instant cash crop for both domestic consumption and commercial beer-making.

Sorghum farmers in the larger Kitui District in the country's Eastern Province, are expected to make impressive profits from sales, following harvests considered the best ever.

An estimated 15,000 farmers in the region are expected to benefit from sales of the crop to the East African Breweries Limited (EABL), the region's leading beer and beverage manufacturer. The firm is reported to be adopting sorghum for use in its beer manufacture in place of barley.

Farmers in the larger Kitui district, Kyuso and Mutomo have been sensitized on the importance of turning to sorghum as a cash crop. It was previously grown in small patches of land, while maize and beans featured as the main food crops.

Africa Harvest and East Africa Breweries Limited recently toured the expansive Mwingi District to sensitize and educate farmers on the novelty of sorghum as a cash earner.

Partnering with East Africa Malting Limited, a subsidiary of EABL, Africa Harvest and Equity Bank, the tour party familiarized farmers on how to maximize sorghum production to enhance the value chain in the country.

Under the program, the bank disburses small loans to the farmers for farm inputs, while Africa Harvest gives the technical advice so that farmers produce the best quality to suit the needs of the East African Malting Company.

Dorcas Wambua a farmer in Yumbisye village deep inside Kitui says she started sorghum farming on commercial basis two years after she attended a workshop organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the East African Breweries Company.

Initially, she says she planted the crop only for domestic consumption as the prices were very low and there were no ready buyers. Now, Dorcas says she earns between 15,000 shillings to 20, 000 shillings (about 200 and 300 U.S. dollars) from every harvest.

The price offered by the new buyer of 20 shillings (about 25 a U.S. cents) per kilo is not bad given that previously one could sell the produce as low as 3 shillings per kilo. The sorghum proceeds, she says is able to meet her basic needs and also educate her children.

Simion Makau of Songumo village in Mutomo district has increased acreage of sorghum from three acres to four acres after the East African Breweries moved to buy the gaddam variety. He says last season he harvested 10 bags earning him 18,000 shillings (about 250 dollars) and hoped to double the production this season.

"Our area is disadvantaged by unpredictable rains most of the time going without food for years but since sorghum needs little rain, the new market outlet will greatly improve our livelihoods, '' Mutua told Xinhua in a interview recently.

He says more than 30 farmers in the area have adopted the modern technology of sorghum production and plans are underway to form an association to sell the produce in a central market to avoid exploitation by middle men.

"From the sorghum produce, I have been able to buy two bulls for ploughing my shamba (field) and hope this will enable us to produce more,'' Mutua narrated with a lot of confidence.

He, however, says apart from selling the produce to the current good price, sorghum has the best porridge and increase the nutritional value for young children. The use of sorghum in the brewing industry is not new. Its commercial use could not, however, be realized due to the miniscule harvests that were attributed to poor soils and minimal rainfall in its regions of production.

Last year's short rains season, combined with a strong demand for barley, coupled with high importation costs, compelled EABL to source for sorghum, barley's alternative.

The program has taken off in the lower zones of Eastern Province -- Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Tharaka, Embu and some parts of the larger Meru Districts.

Rose Mutuku of Smart Logistics, the firm hired to source the grain from farmers on behalf of the East African Malt, says EABL requires over 60,000 tons of barley or sorghum yearly for its beer production.

Mutuku, however, says during her recent tour of Mwingi, farmers expressed their reluctance to cultivate sorghum in large quantities over doubts of its economic viability. In the event the program fails to realize the desired volumes, the beer manufacturer may be forced to import the grain from Tanzania.

Africa Harvest Technology Deployment Director, Dr. Rose Njeru on her part says the NGO moved in last year and distributed seeds to the farmers. She hopes the enhanced sorghum sales will greatly boost the incomes of the poor peasant farmers, in addition to realizing the potential of the otherwise neglected sorghum grain.

Dr. Florence Wambugu, chief executive officer of Africa Harvest, expects the farmers to improve their harvests if they stay true to the training and advice they received from the experts.

Muthengi Mutua of Mwingi says after attending an awareness creation session on sorghum production by Farm Africa, he devoted six acres under sorghum, and managed to harvest a total of 30 bags of 90 kg each. He sold the harvest for 17 shillings per kilo.

"Several farmers borrowed my idea, and are now enjoying the benefits," brags Mutua. He now plans to increase the acreage.

Local leaders are now encouraging farmers to plant traditional food crops other than maize and beans, to improve their incomes and enhance food security.