EXIDE WINTER PROMOTION LAUNCHED

ZAMBIAN Breweries (ZB) has teamed up with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to monitor and assess the performance of sorghum farming in Gwembe District, and Silverlands and Musika in Zimba District under its sorghum out-grower scheme.

The nation’s biggest brewer provides a market for small-scale sorghum farmers who grow the crop as a key ingredient of the company’s affordable Eagle lager.

But growing concern about the effects of climate change on farmers has prompted Zambian Breweries to partner with the WFP and agribusiness support non-governmental organisation Musika, and Silverl ands to better understand the problems faced by the sector.

The research feeds into the company’s moves to respond to the risk climate change poses on the agricultural sector, as it aligns its Sustainability agenda with the 2025 UN Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

“As Zambia’s largest brewer of clear beer and consumer of sorghum our commitment to provide a ready market and technical support for our local sorghum farmers goes beyond just empowering farmers with farming inputs and yield support:

“We aim to make Zambia a “Better World” through our sustainable Smart Agriculture goals. By 2025 all of our direct farmers should be skilled, connected, and financially empowered,” said Zambian Breweries Country Director Michelle Kilpin.

The partnership is aimed at monitoring and providing support in the management of the sorghum out-grower scheme in an integrated manner with technical oversight and support from key government ministries, private sector players and implementing partners in the district.

“Our partnership with the World Food Programme will help smallholder farmers access high-yielding sorghum seed, training on crop management and insurance to protect their crops from climate shocks, as well as provide agricultural extension services and markets.

“This will help our smallholder farmers realise that despite the threats climate change poses on agriculture, sorghum farming can still be considered asa business and a source of income for the well-being and betterment of their families and the country at large,” added Ms Kilpin.

According to the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), Zambia has continued to experience a growing trend in the frequency and intensity of climate extremes over the years and this is projected to continue, with the southern region projected to experience drier weather conditions and the northern region to have relatively more floods dueto excessive rainfall. These climate shocks have had negative impacts on Zambia’s agricultural sector and food systems.

The partnership is also meant to examine the difference in performance and crop stand of the sorghum crop, to provide on-the-spot support activities and formulate an effective and inclusive management approach with key stakeholders.

In Southern Province Zambian Breweries is focused on joint partnerships with WFP, Musika and Silverlands Smallholders and other organisations working to improve livelihoods for smallholders growing sorghum.

The company also provides a market for small-scale farmers in the cassava buying regions in Luapula and Northern provinces, where the company is focused on developing its out-grower programme with over six cooperatives, contracting off-take in a secure market for their cassava.

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