SBL rolls out ambitious agribusiness plan to increase farmer yields

DAR ES SALAAM: The Serengeti Breweries Limited’s (SBL) has launched a ‘Shamba Ni Mali program’ that aims to address the company’s renewed ambition to improve the lives of thousands of local farmers from whom its maize, sorghum and barley are used for beer production. 

In a statement issued by the company on Tuesday morning, they were prompted to launch the program due to poor harvests brought about by the use of counterfeited fertilizers and pesticides, erratic rain patterns, lack of knowledge farming expertise as well as use of obsolete technologies.

According to the company, the mentioned factors are among key challenges undermining crop yields in the country.

The ‘Shamba ni Mali’ programme is set to directly benefit over 4,000 smallholder farmers across Tanzania, primarily those growing sorghum, barley, and maize.

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SBL Managing Director Obinna Anyalebechi said that the program is designed to empower farmers by providing them with a reliable market for their produce, access to high-yielding seed varieties for barley and sorghum, and crucial training on good agricultural practices, including regenerative agriculture.

The program, according to Obinna, is focused on creating a business value by sourcing sustainably to deliver supply security, entrenching resilience and safeguarding business reputation, all while guaranteeing farmer profitability and significantly improving livelihoods across the country.

The ‘Shamba ni Mali’ initiative will also focus on developing strong relationships with farmers through regular extension visits for knowledge exchange and developing regular farmer touchpoints. 

Moreover, he said that another key aspect of the programme is that it is inclusive sourcing, with a strong emphasis on empowering women, youth, and marginalised groups by participating in formalized contracts and access to services.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Gerald Mwelisaid also stated that the ‘Shamba ni Mali’ program aligns well with Tanzania’s Agriculture Master Plan 20250 a visionary blueprint aiming to transform the nation’s agricultural sector into one that is sustainable, resilient, and inclusive by 2050, positioning Tanzania as a higher middle-income country.

The program launch brought together key players from the government, the private sector, development partners and other stakeholders from the agricultural sector.