Gabriel Opoku-Asare making a presentation at the event [Inset: Participants at the programme]
Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), Ghana’s leading total beverage company, has urged agric entrepreneurs who have the technical knowhow and resources to invest in commercial agriculture.
This, according to the beverage company, will bring enormous benefits to local farmers, the community and country as a whole.
Gabriel Opoku-Asare, Corporate Relations Director of GGBL, who was speaking at the 5th Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Bootcamp held in Accra, called on investors and technical experts to invest in the agriculture sector for great returns.
The event was aimed at training entrepreneurs through critical thinking exercises and business framework modeling to build a sustainable venture in the agribusiness supply chain, while building wealth in their community.
Sharing the experience of manufacturing industries with participants, Mr. Opoku-Asare said good government policies are essential in developing agribusiness in Ghana.
He said, “Since the passage of the Customs and Excise (Duties & Other Taxes) Amendment Act, (Act 855) in 2012, crops such as sorghum, maize and cassava have become commercially viable for many a farmer.
“GGBL, as a guaranteed off taker, uses these crops for the production of our premium products. Currently, we have increased the amount of local raw materials in our brands from 12 percent in 2012 to 48 percent with a commitment to achieve an 80 percent target by 2020,” Mr Opoku-Asare said.
This, he said, required significant investment in farmer education, yield and quality improvement that will ensure consistent supply of local raw materials for innovation and brand re-engineering.
Organizers of the programme, Diaspora Angel Investment Network (DAIN), expressed excitement about GGBL’s progress in the area of agribusiness.
Nii Simmonds, Programme Director of the Network said, “It is exciting to see the potential that agriculture has in Ghana. The gap still remains in encouraging entrepreneurs to move from subsistent practices to commercial farming.
“That is why we have consistently engaged youthful potentials to grow their minds and help them achieve successes in the area of agribusiness.”
By Cephas Larbi