TANZANIA – Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL), a subsidiary of East African Breweries Ltd (EABL) has launched a Tsh.220m water project in Mara Region, in a bid to avail safe and clean water to the residents.
The project launched under its Water of Life initiative, comprises of a borehole, a solar water pump that can produce 7,500 litres of water per hour and a water tank.
According to reports by Daily News Tanzania, over 12,000 people will benefit from the project, especially girls and women who spend a lot of time in search of clean water, giving them an opportunity to attend school or engage in income generating activities.
“SBL has a policy commitment towards the wellbeing of our community with water for life being one of our four priority areas that our company has defined in its objective to provide social support to the community in which it serves,“ said SBL Corporate Relations Director, John Wanyancha.
The other community impacting projects run by the maker of Serengeti Premium Lager include Provision of Skills for Life, Environmental Sustainability and Promotion of Responsible Drinking.
The Water of Life project has also been undertaken in Iringa, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Tanga, Ruvuma, Dar es Salaam, Coast and Dodoma regions.
Recently, the brewer issued over 70 new scholarships to students studying agricultural-related courses in local colleges, to boost skill development in the industry.
Serengeti Breweries issues 70 new scholarships to bright students through “Kilimo-Viwanda programme
This is the second year that SBL supports bright students from underprivileged backgrounds to access college education in agricultural disciplines through its Kilimo-Viwanda program.
Last year 40 students were given this opportunity, as it inaugurated the initiative.
The scholarships cover school fees and other academic-related expenses for the student’s entire period of study.
“Kilimo-Viwanda programme builds on both the student’s theoretical learning as well as practical exposure through visits to SBL breweries and in the farms to practice what they learn in class,” SBL Managing Director, Mark Ocitti said.
Other than ensuring the young professionals get imparted with the necessary skills and knowledge pertaining to the agriculture industry, SBL has extended its support to 400 local farmers whom supplied the company with 17,000 tonnes of grain equivalent to 70 percent of its total raw materials requirement.
Beginning of the year, SBL alongside its competitor Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL), entered into an agreement with the government to purchase wheat at a minimum price of Tsh 800 (US$0.35) per kilogramme.
This follows the country importing 800,000 – 1 million tons of wheat annually amid availability of arable land and conducive climate to facilitate mass production of the cash crop.
In a bid to ensure ample supply, the Ministry of Agriculture ordered investors holding state wheat farms to resume farming in large scale or forfeit the plantations.
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