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With
investments in Agriculture, local manufacturing and backward integration, the
Guinness Nigeria Local Raw Materials (LRM) initiative has benefited over 6,000
subsistence farmers, rural traders and various stakeholders in the production
value chains. This was disclosed by Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mr.
Baker Magunda, at the launch of a programme tagged “Grow with Nigeria” in
Abuja.
He said the
LRM initiative despite its current focus on rural subsistence farmers is
helping to create value in local markets, strengthening state and national
economies, improving agricultural systems, enhancing food security, and
boosting supplies of sustainable raw materials that meet global standards.
Speaking on
the initiative, Magunda, said, “we are here today to further demonstrate our
commitment to the Federal Government’s policy on diversification and local
content, the growth of the agricultural value chain and that of small holder
farmers who form an integral part of our business. Over the last 20 years, our
business has consistently sourced its entire core ingredients such as sorghum
and malt extract locally through the various local raw material chains. Currently,
our local content sourcing is 75% and we plan to increase this significantly
within the next couple of years.”
He said the
partnerships have enabled the company to develop an ecosystem of private sector
players creating value that impact smallholder farmers directly. “In 2018, we
partnered with 5,121 smallholder farmers across eight states of Nigeria. These
farmers were provided access to finance, certified seeds, unadulterated inputs,
mechanization, training on good agronomic practice and basic book keeping,
supplier credit process, extension support and access to market. With this
intervention, Guinness Nigeria was able to leverage on the collaboration as
provided by the respective partners in the ecosystem to improve the livelihoods
of these farmers by moving them from subsistence level to full economic
inclusion.” he added.
The Minister
of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh commended Guinness
Nigeria on this laudable initiative. Said he, “When Guinness began buying
sorghum from local farmers many of us realized that this was a revolution that
started ahead of its time. The logic of buying raw materials from local farmers
has seen wealth being moved into the rural areas instead of out of the shores
of Nigeria, because every time you import anything, you are importing poverty
and exporting wealth and dangers not visible. I am very proud of Guinness
Nigeria and I urge other manufacturers to do same.”
Executive
Director, Corporate and Investment Banking Stanbic IBTC, Andrew Mashanda said
the bank which is the financial partner of the initiative and which has
injected over 50 billion naira into Nigeria’s agricultural sector reassured
farmers of its commitment to providing financial solutions that would help them
and their businesses grow through its agriculture desk.
As part of
the events, farmers who performed well for the 2018 farming season were also
recognized and rewarded for their effort at the event: Yoila Hanabi, the winner
was presented with a threshing machine worth N750, 000 while Hajara Barau and
Atiku Abdulahi, the first and second runners up were presented with bags of
fertilizer.
Guinness
Nigeria is in partnership with CBN, Stanbic IBTC, OCP Africa, AFEX Commodity
and OXFAM in ensuring the success of the initiative.
Other dignitaries
at the launch were Head, Agric Credit Support Division Development Finance Department
CBN, Olukayode Oluwole and Non-Executive Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc,
Ambassador Sunday Dogonyaro.
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