By Amin Kef Sesay
The Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) from the 11th March 2021 to the 13th March 2021 visited the South-Eastern Provinces of Kenema and Bo and also Tonkolili District in the North/Central on a pre sorghum cultivation campaign.
The team comprised the Corporate Affairs Manager, Albert Ojo Collier, Unisa Conteh, Corporate Affairs Assistant, Denis Jusu, Chairman Sorghum Farmers and Marketers’ Association.
From what this medium learnt, the quantity of sorghum received in the Brewery in the past harvest periods has been very low and disappointing, and other interested parties are everywhere trying to convince farmers to sell their harvested grains to them. The effects of COVID-19 also hang on the farmers as economic challenges get tough daily.
In that regard, SLBL has plunged more effort to increase its footprint in local sourcing and making local cultivation of sorghum an even more priority. SLBL is also finalizing its plans to introduce the local cultivation of Barley in Sierra Leone for the first time in the country.
SLBL has experienced low supply from farmers in the recent past harvests, since the commissioning of the Mash-filter equipment and other machineries now allowing the brewery to use more sorghum. Thus, there is the need for more sorghum as they are in dire need to also improve the company’s footprint on sustainable local sourcing of ingredients.
The drive that was recently undertaken will address increased awareness of the benefits of sorghum cultivation stimulating confidence building among the farmers.
In this pre-harvest period SLBL engaged farmers in the provinces to reassure them that the Brewery will be buying all produced quality sorghum.
During the last day the team joined JAMJAY Agricultural Company to launch a 100 hectare sorghum farm to test the cultivation of a new sorghum variety that is planted for only Three months (as opposed to the usual Catic variety that is planted for six months).
In his speech during the launch of the JAMJAY Sorghum Farm, the Corporate Affairs Manager of the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Albert Ojo Collier, said he is profoundly grateful to Jamjay Company for inviting the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited to attend the great occasion and formal launch of the iconic sorghum farm.
He maintained that Sierra Leone Brewery Limited since the last 12 years has offered many opportunities for the commercial sorghum cultivation sector to stimulate innovation, promote local content policy, and ensure continued growth.
He underscored that agriculture is a powerful driver of the economy and a powerful driver of jobs as well as prosperity for the nation.
“I am of course particularly pleased when a farmer in the sorghum cultivation extension in the country is leading the way,” he stated adding how it is a time of great change in the sector, with both challenges and opportunities appearing from all angles.
He highlighted that the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) has been in operations in Sierra Leone for over 58 years and has stayed in the country through the difficult times of the ten years civil war, the Ebola Virus Disease in 2014-2016 and now complementing Government effort to fight against COVID-19.
The Corporate Affairs Manager maintained that the company has strategically positioned itself as a good corporate citizen and has invested significant efforts and funds to setup a new sorghum value chain and contributes to the development and job creation in the agricultural sector.
“Since 2005, Sierra Leone Brewery Limited has been a major contributor to the agricultural sector through its local sourcing project for sorghum which is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the development of Sierra Leone, poverty alleviation and job creation,” he furthered.
He disclosed how the SLBL anticipates several Key Strategic Directions identified including to help farmers respond to market and environmental opportunities.
“Our investment effort represents an ambitious plan to promote and develop Sierra Leone’s agri-food sector, enhancing productivity, organization and development,” he also revealed.
Albert Ojo Collier said specifically for sorghum development, SLBL has installed a Mash Filter equipment (project costing over Le. 52.6 billion) equipment which allows to utilize more sorghum in their production processes.
He said in addition, SLBL had launched a beer made of 100% Sierra Leonean sorghum in December 2016. “As a result, our needs for more sorghum have grown enormously and more farmers are benefitting. Our sorghum volume has been more than doubled, and this year our sorghum usage increased to 1.3 million metric tons. Our farmers are not even meeting a half of this target,” he intimated.
He said that is why they call on the intervention of Government and other donors to support the large scale cultivation of sorghum in the country.
“Development partners can aim to develop Loan Fund facilities in order to further extend finance to farmers,” he recommended adding that it is expected to have a multiplier effects in the economy with increased livelihood of farmers, job creation and more tax revenue for the Government.
He said the Sorghum Farmers Association estimates that over 25,000 farmers and farmers’ family members will benefit from that initiative with SLBL saying the impact will further be extended with the growth of our business.
According to him the Jam Jay Sorghum farm happens to be the first model test case for their new sorghum variety which is cultivated in only 90 days period, as opposed to the usual Katic variety which is cultivated for 6 months period.
He said with this new variety, planting period will be boosted as farmers will work towards a shorter harvest period. “The successes of this farm will be replicated to support plantation by other farmers all over the country,” he said.
He stated that to meet the demand of Sorghum needed by SLBL to support production, the CREATE (Community Revenue Enhancement through Agriculture and Technological Extension) project is working with more farmers and with SLARI on new varieties, training, financing and planting materials to help increase their yields.
The project, he said, is managed by the European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD), funded by the Dutch Government, HEINEKEN International and Sierra Leone Brewery Limited.
He maintained that if we want to promote the Made in Sierra Leone initiative, the bottom line is income for the farmer has to remain the priority because without a producer, we do not have a product.
He said there is a world of opportunity out there for Sierra Leonean farmers and food processors.
“We have the resources – our productive farmland and our fresh, clean water, we have the know-how, right across Sierra Leone — and right here in this farm,” he said adding that it is a winning combination to keep Sierra Leone agriculture out in front.
