Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC (GGBPLC) has honored deserving sorghum farmers and aggregators in the Upper East and Upper West regions at an appreciation event held in Tamale.
This forms part of the company’s efforts of investing in agriculture and brewing operations in the country.
From 12% in 2012, the company is currently sources over 60% of its raw materials locally from 11 regions out of the 16 in Ghana.
In her submission, the Managing Director of GGBPCL, Helene Weesie noted that, the company has been energized to invest in the cultivation of Sorghum, re-engineering the brand to use more of the local product to improve their brands.
To achieve this feat, madam Weesie indicated that hardworking farmers who toil on daily basis to provide raw materials for the company’s use, needed to be motivated to do more.
Additionally, GGBPCL is currently working with over 30,000 farmers and a study by the Bureau of Integrated and Rural Development of the KNUST indicates that the programme is impacting over 210,000 beneficiaries in the value chain.
Delivering his keynote address, the Northern Regional Minister applauded Guinness Ghana for their local raw material initiative and appealed for the provision of farm implements to farmers to curb losses during harvesting, trashing and drying of sorghum.
Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu further appealed to the breweries through their Managing Director, to situate one of its plants in the Northern Region, to serve their customers and also serve as a source of employment.
He however believes sorghum will be a great prospect in the Eastern part of the region, and wants farmers to explore the opportunity to assist Guinness Ghana meet its target of 20,000 tones by 2024.
The Regional Director of Agriculture, Madam Hawa MUSAH was however perturbed about the absence of Farmers from the Northern Region in the all-important award ceremony.
She urged the organizers to endeavor to invite them in their next award ceremony, even if they aren’t due for an award to serve as a wakeup call.
A total of 17 Farmers were rewarded, with Dery Laziroes and Mr Ali Damani recognised for being the best sorghum farmer in the Upper west and Best Sorghum Producer in the Upper East regions respectively.
The top winners took home Tricycles, a certificate, Trampoline and assorted products from GGBPCL.
Other categories awarded various Farmers from the two regions include; Best Farmer group, Best Female farmer, Promising youth farmer, Farmer practicing good soil management among other categories.
Whiles some winners took home tricycles, certificate, Trampoline and assorted products, others took home motorcycles among other giveaways.
Source:Fiilafmonline/ShawanaYussif
