African Agricultural Capital is proud to announce our latest investment in Amaranth International Ltd (AIL). AIL has developed capacity to process grain amaranth (Terere) into flour and breakfast cereal. Amaranth seeds are high in protein with a content of 14% to 16%. The nutritional profile is well balanced in amino acids, and is high in lysine. Grain amaranth requires 60-75 days from planting to harvest, making it an ideal cash crop for small holders. The crop has a lower nitrogen demand than maize and has similar plant nutrition requirements as sorghum.

AIL contracts small holder farmers in Kenya and Uganda to grow grain amaranth on its behalf. Currently AIL has contracted about 1,000 farmers and six agricultural societies and co-operatives and expects to expand this number in the future.

Our early stage investment in the company in the form of both equity and debt provided the company with much needed expansion capital to finance the acquisition of amaranth processing equipment and working capital.
The company has developed the ?Ama? brand of pure flour, fermented flour and popped cereal amaranth grain. The high quality and richly nutritious ?Ama? brand has been widely accepted in Kenya and continues to gaining consumer preference and prominence in major retail outlets throughout Kenya. The factory and warehouses are located in Ongata Rongai in Nairobi.