By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) has recorded its highest-ever local sorghum supply after farmers delivered 1,004 metric tonnes in 2026, exceeding the company’s target of 800 metric tonnes.
The record performance has encouraged the company to increase its local sourcing target to between 1,350 and 1,400 metric tonnes in 2027, as SLBL seeks to deepen its partnership with local farmers and promote the use of locally produced agricultural inputs.
The achievement was celebrated on Friday, August 14, 2026, during an incentive distribution ceremony organised by SLBL in collaboration with Sierra Bottling Group (SBG) at the SLBL Supply Chain Academy. The ceremony was held under the theme, “Empowering Local Farmers, Building a Stronger Sierra Leone.”
Twelve sorghum farmers received a combined incentive package of NLe513,000 after meeting or exceeding their individual production targets and making significant contributions to the company’s local sorghum supply.
Speaking at the ceremony, SLBL Managing Director Henry du Plessis commended the farmers for their strong performance and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting local producers.
Du Plessis recalled an earlier commitment made to farmers that SLBL would purchase whatever quantity of sorghum they produced. He said the farmers had not only responded positively to that commitment but had gone beyond the company’s expectations.
He also welcomed the increasing participation of women in sorghum farming, describing their involvement as an encouraging development for the agricultural sector.
“I am happy to see the women stepping up,” he said, expressing optimism about the future of farming and the opportunities it could create for rural communities.
According to SLBL Sorghum Local Sourcing Lead Joseph Sesay, locally produced sorghum is an important component of the company’s manufacturing operations.
Sesay explained that sorghum is used in the production of beverages including Maltina, Star Beer and Mutzig, making reliable local supplies important to the company’s production activities.
“The farmers are very integral to our work,” Sesay said.
He noted that the 1,004 metric tonnes supplied in 2026 represented a significant improvement over the company’s 800-tonne target and said SLBL was determined to build on the achievement.
For 2027, the company is targeting between 1,350 and 1,400 metric tonnes, a move that could create further opportunities for farmers and strengthen the link between local agriculture and industrial production.
Representing the Government, Director of Export at the National Investment Board (NIB), Bobson Margai, described the initiative as an important recognition of the contribution farmers make to local production and economic activity.
Margai called for stronger collaboration among SLBL, SBG and the NIB, while encouraging farmers to formally register their businesses to improve their access to investment opportunities and other forms of support.
The ceremony also highlighted the growing economic opportunities associated with sorghum farming, particularly for women who are increasingly entering the sector.
Beneficiary Ya Wara Sesay said sorghum farming had become increasingly rewarding as her annual production improved. She encouraged farmers to work collectively and strengthen cooperation to achieve better results.
Another beneficiary, Lamrana Bundu, said she moved into sorghum farming after previously working as a trader. Although she initially faced challenges, she said determination enabled her to overcome them and develop the farming business into an important source of livelihood.
Traditional leadership was also represented at the ceremony, with Paramount Chief Massa Yeli Tham III of Gbanti Chiefdom in Bombali District disclosing that he had recently ventured into sorghum farming as an additional source of income.
He said his experience had already begun yielding positive results and pledged to encourage other traditional leaders in the district to consider investing in sorghum production.
The record supply and the new 2027 target reflect growing efforts to connect Sierra Leonean farmers with local industries and create stronger markets for agricultural products.
With its target of up to 1,400 metric tonnes next year, SLBL is positioning local farmers at the centre of its expanding sorghum sourcing programme while seeking to increase domestic agricultural production and strengthen the contribution of farming to Sierra Leone’s economy.
The company’s latest achievement also signals the potential for stronger partnerships between farmers and private-sector industries, particularly where consistent local production can help meet industrial demand while creating income-generating opportunities for farming communities.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 19th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
