Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC and SNV Netherlands Development Organization have joined forces to launch an initiative aimed at promoting sustainable production and supply of high-quality white sorghum for processing in Ghana.

This partnership marks the first of its kind between Diageo, the parent company of Guinness Ghana, and SNV, which operates in various African countries.

The collaborative effort, known as the Partnership for Sustainable Sorghum Sourcing in Ghana (P3SG), seeks to empower more than 12,500 smallholder and commercial farmers, including women and youth, to produce 72,375 metric tons of sorghum between 2023 and 2028. The ultimate objective is to establish a thriving and sustainable white sorghum supply chain, enabling farmers to view sorghum as a profitable crop within sustainable farming systems.

Helene Weesie, Managing Director of Guinness Ghana, highlights the current challenge faced by farmers in meeting the demands of Guinness Ghana due to low yields resulting from limited access to production resources such as improved seeds, agro-inputs, financial services, and climate variability.

Weesie emphasises the commitment of Guinness Ghana to conducting business in an ethical and sustainable manner.

The P3SG Project aims to address these issues through improved farmer organization, mutual understanding of quality and supply standards, equitable pricing and contracting terms, enhanced production techniques, and the active involvement of women and youth in the sub-sector.

Pieter Spaarman, Country Director of SNV Ghana, notes the organization's extensive expertise and experience in the agriculture sector, having worked in Ghana for over three decades.

Spaarman expresses enthusiasm for the collaboration with Guinness Ghana and other value chain actors to integrate the local sorghum supply chain and promote agricultural development. Together with partners in the Northern regions of Ghana, where the P3SG Project will be implemented, SNV aims to improve farmer livelihoods, enhance access to basic services, and ensure sustainable and quality practices along the white sorghum value chain.

Ghana's sorghum production data from 2018, as reported by the African Postharvest Losses Information System (APHLIS), indicates that the country primarily cultivated red sorghum, with only a small portion allocated to large-scale industrial breweries. Approximately 12% of the total production was lost post-harvest, indicating room for increasing local sorghum sourcing for breweries without compromising food security in the region.

The P3SG Project represents a significant stride towards establishing a sustainable and profitable business environment for sorghum farmers in Ghana.

Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC and SNV Netherlands Development Organization are committed to close collaboration with all stakeholders to achieve the outlined objectives and make a positive impact on the livelihoods of farmers, particularly women and youth.