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Monday, 2 February 2015

Tanzanian farmers get support from Brewery

As a part of the Local Raw Material Initiative, Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL) is distributing barley seeds to farmers in Kilimanjaro and Manyara. Under the initiative, 4,000 tonnes of barley seeds will be distributed to framers. The initiative is expected to benefit farmers of the region.

"We have started with these regions...extra seeds are en route and more farmers are set to benefit this season," said Mr Shafii Mndeme, Agribusiness Manager of SBL.

The farmers seem to be satisfied by the initiative, Mr. Nobert Malihela, one of the farmers said, “We get seeds when needed and this helps us plant on time and get better harvests," he said, requesting the company to broaden the initiative to more farmers in the country.

The farmers feel that the initiative has helped them form a reliable market and build confidence to access loans. Also the initiative has helped the farmers get timely payments for their produce.

"It is because of this contract farming that we have built confidence in banks and other financial institutions," said Mr. Mwinyio Makame, another farmer.

The initiative started in 2012 with only 5 farmers and has now grown to 150 farmers. Around 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of barley is produced every season.

The initiative is run in districts of Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Iringa and Rukwa.

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