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Caption: L-R: Jacquelyne Yawa; Head of Agribusiness Guinness Nigeria, Hon. Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Yoila Hanabi; Best Performing Farmer 2018 Farming Season, Baker Magunda; MD/CEO Guinness Nigeria and Viola Graham-Douglas; Corporate Relations Director Guinness Nigeria at the launch of Guinness Nigeria Agriculture Scheme themed "Grow With Nigeria" at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja

In line with the Federal government’s effort to diversify the Nigerian economy through the promotion of agriculture, Guinness Nigeria Plc., Nigeria’s first and only total beverage alcohol (TBA) company and a member of Diageo Plc, launched its agriculture scheme tagged “Grow with Nigeria” at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on the 22nd of January 2019.

In attendance were, Hon. Audu Ogbeh; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Olukayode Oluwole, Head, Agric Credit Support Division development Finance Department CBN; Andrew Mashanda, Executive Director Corporate and Investment Banking Stanbic IBTC; Ambassador. Sunday Dogonyaro, Non-executive Director Guinness Nigeria, Farmers, Vendors amongst others.

Speaking on the initiative, Baker Magunda, MD Guinness Nigeria 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 twenty years, our business has consistently sourced all its core ingredients such as sorghum and malt extract locally through the various local raw material chains. Currently, our local content sourcing is 75% an we plan to increase this significantly within the next couple of years.”

“These partnerships have enabled us 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, Hon. Audu Ogbeh commended Guinness Nigeria on this laudable initiative. According to him, “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.”

Stanbic IBTC, the financial partner of the initiative reassured farmers of its commitment to providing financial solutions that will help them and their businesses grow through its agriculture desk. Stanbic IBTC has injected over 50 billion naira into Nigeria’s agricultural sector and this is one of the largest investments recorded in the sector so far.

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. Hajara Barau and Atiku Abdulahi; the first and second runners up were presented with bags of fertilizer.

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 chain. 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.

Guinness Nigeria is in partnership with CBN, Stanbic IBTC, OCP Africa, AFEX Commodity and OXFAM in ensuring the success of the initiative.