SBL unveils ‘Kilimo-viwanda’ scholarship for agricultural studies
Thirty students pursuig agriculture related studies in the country will get fully funded sholarships from leading beer brewer, Serengeti Breweries Limited starting this year.
Unveiling the program this week, SBL Managing Director, Mark Ocitti said the scholarships will enable students from farming communities pursue high education in agricultural related disciplines at three local colleges in the country which include Bagamoyo based Kaole Wazazi College of Agriculture.
Ocitti said the initiative is also aimed at beefing up the existing pool of experts in the agricultural sector to support farmers increase their productivity. “It is important that we support the government in building capacity of our farmers through training of experts in agricultural fields of study,” Ocitti noted.
He further pointed out that eligible students for the program are not only those from under privileged backgrounds but must also come from farming communities across the country. The three colleges will each admit 10 students every academic year.
SBL is dependent on local farmers for its supply of cereals used in beer production which include barley, maize and sorghum. Last year, according to the managing director, the company bought 17,000 metric tons of the grains from local farmers’ which was equivalent to 70 percent of its total raw materials requirement for the year.
“SBL’s ambition is to increase its sourcing of local raw materials to 85 percent by 2020 that’s why we find it important to support the government in training specialists such as field extension officers, agronomists and others. We currently source grains from a network of 400 farmers in various regions across the country,” the SBL chief added.
Speaking at the event, Principal of Kaole Wazazi College of Agriculture, Sinani Simba commended SBL for the initiative appealing to other private sector stakeholders to also support development of the agricultural sector.
“Training of agricultural experts is one of the priorities spelt out in the Agriculture Sector Development Program Phase II as a prerequisite to increasing productivity and income generation for the local farmers,” Simba said.
Incorporated in 1988 as Associated Breweries, SBL is the second largest beer company in Tanzania, with its beer brands accounting for over 25 percent of the market by volume. SBL has three operating plants in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Moshi.
Since the creation of SBL in 2002, the business has grown its portfolio of brands year on year. The majority stake acquisition by EABL/Diageo in 2010 has seen increased investment in international quality standards leading to greater job opportunities for the people of Tanzania.
SBL Brands have been receiving multiple international awards and include Serengeti Premium Lager, Serengeti Lite, Pilsner Lager, Pilsner King, Tusker Lager, Tusker Lite, Kibo Gold, Guinness stout and Senator. The company is also home to world’s renowned spirits such as Johnnie Walker Whisky, Smirnoff Vodka, Gordon’s Gin, Captain Morgan Rum and Baileys Irish Cream.
