In furtherance of its efforts at showing its commitment to the growth and development of the agricultural sector, Ghana’s premier beverage manufacturer, Accra Brewery Limited (ABL), has made a donation towards the 32nd National Farmers Day celebration. ABL has been an annual sponsor of the National Farmers Day event since its inception.

For the 2016 Farmers Day, ABL donated GHC 40, 000 cash together with 220 cases of an assortment of its products valued at GHC 6,440. Additionally, three communities in the Volta, Upper East and Western Regions will each be provided with a mechanised solar powered borehole and a furrow irrigation system at a total cost of GHC 308,000. This brings ABL’s total sponsorship for the 2016 Farmers Day celebration to GHC 354,440.

Corporate and Legal Affairs Director of ABL, Ms Adjoba Kyiamah, made the presentation at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the Deputy Sector Minister Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, who also chairs the National Farmers Day Planning Committee.

Ms Kyiamah spoke about the company’s continuous desire to improve the livelihoods of rural farmers. “It is our desire to support the creation of a productive world where land is used responsibly, food supply is secure, biodiversity is protected and brewing crops can be accessed at reasonable prices. We appreciate that the crops used to brew beer are an integral part of the food system. Examples in Ghana include cassava, maize and sorghum.

These are major staple foods for many across the country and so we want to help both commercial and smallholder farmers increase yields and profitably while reducing environmental impact, to ensure brewing crops are profitable to famers, whilst at the same time measurably improve both food security and resource productivity”.

She stressed further “sustainable development is a key ambition of the company and we believe that the long-term sustainability of our business depends on growing economies, healthy communities and responsible use of scarce natural resources. In line with this, our Eagle Lager is being developed as a ‘brand with a purpose’ to “grow economies” through agro-based and social intervention programmes such as the construction of three boreholes and irrigation systems. Last year we undertook a similar project for a community in the Upper East Region.”

According to Ms Kyiamah, the three projects are being powered by the Eagle Lager brand hence the code name Eagle farmer initiative. “We are celebrating 85 years of producing quality and refreshing beverages in Ghana and we deem it fit to scale up our contribution to the farming community. Last year we gave a cheque for GHC 20, 000 but we have now increased it to GHC 40,000. Our company does business in a way that improves livelihoods and helps build communities.”

The Chairman of the National Farmers Day Planning Committee, Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan expressed government’s gratitude to ABL for its unwavering support to farmers in the country since the inception of the awards scheme. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture recently honoured ABL with a certificate in recognition of its outstanding contribution to agriculture in Ghana.

ABL currently produces brands that rely heavily on local raw materials such as maize, cassava and sorghum. These brands are namely Eagle Lager (cassava); Chibuku Shake Shake (Sorghum) and Ghana’s number one selling beer, Club Premium Lager (maize).