ZAMBIAN BREWERIES RE-COMMITS TO SUPPORTING CASSAVA FARMERS

By Jessica Mwansa

WE will continue to support smallholder farmers in order to recognize their efforts towards increasing the production of cassava, Zambia Breweries Country Director Michelle Kilpin has said. 

In an interview with The Scoop, Ms. Kilpin said the smallholder producers of the cassava crop were an integral part of the Zambia Breweries’ supply chain supporting the production of its Eagle Lager beer and Mosi Light with cassava being a key ingredient.

She said these farmers were the unsung heroes that had continued to contribute to the development of cassava in the country and its commercialization.

 “Zambia Breweries buys cassava from over 4,000 farmers from Luapula, Northern, and Muchinga Provinces of Zambia. The crop is a key ingredient in the manufacture of the affordable Eagle Lager.

 “Zambia Breweries will continue to support the smallholder farmers, including women and youths with training, input supply, and extension services to enhance their productivity and improve their livelihood,” Ms. Kilpin said.

She said the company aimed at promoting its cultivation in non-traditional cassava growing areas like Southern, Eastern, and Central Province.

She called for collaborative efforts by other partners in the area of research and development to introduce new cassava varieties, provide input financing, and additional market linkages needed to achieve a sustainable and prosperous agriculture sector in Zambia.

 “We encourage our smallholder farmers by providing a ready market so that we have an increase in the production of an affordable Eagle Lager among other drinks. We need more researchers and other partners in the area of development and research should introduce new cassava varieties to support our farmers and encourage more people in the agriculture sector if we are to achieve sustainable goals in the sector,” she said.

She further said researchers should work with farmers and stakeholders to help the farmers deal with cassava diseases before planting season in November as this also had an effect on the company’s production in the manufacturing of the lagers.

“The cassava disease has affected our smallholder farmers who have produced low yields. Researchers should ensure that they work on the new varieties before planting season,” she said.

She said the company was working on an initiative to buy more cassava from small scale farmers following the investment in an innovative technical process at its Ndola plant that will enable it to easily incorporate the root into its production process.

“Through this technology, the company expects to increase the share of cassava in its eagle lager from 25 percent to 40 percent while removing the sugar content,” she said.