Accra Brewery Launches Cassava Beer

Togbe Afede XIV , Paramount Chief of Asogli Traditional Area, (M) in a group picture with Greg Metcalf, M.D, ABL(L), Adrianus Klaver, Chairman of DADTCO (R) followed by Mama Akua Dei, Queenmother of the paramouncy (in white cloth) and some invited guests

The beer, now selling at GH¢1.20, is the result of several years of research to overcome the challenges of processing and brewing cassava.

More than 70 percent of Ghanaian farms are believed to be three hectares which are mostly used to grow cassava.

Owing to the annual surplus in cassava production of about 40 percent, which fails to get to the market due to the rapid  deterioration of cassava and its high water content, SABMiller, an international brewer and mother company of ABL, in partnership with Dutch Agriculture Development & Trading Company (DADTCO), found a way of brewing cassava into beer.

DADTCO Cassava Processing Ghana Limited and ABL brew the cassava from over 1,500 farmers instead of commercial suppliers.

The processing of the cassava starts on the farm, through the use of a mobile cassava processing unit, AMPU.

Under the project, farmers enjoy extension services from the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC).

Accra Brewery is the second in the SABMiller group to launch a cassava beer after Mozambique in 2011.

The project is part of SABMiller's 'Farming Better Future' programme, which comprises agricultural programmes across Africa.

Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli state, who was the guest of honour at the event said, 'Eagle Larger brings new hope to cassava farmers. It will motivate them to shift from subsistence crop farming to commercial status.'

He therefore urged farmers in the Volta and Eastern regions, where the project is currently ongoing, to take full advantage of the opportunities to transform their various regions.

He also commended SABMiller and ABL for the initiative and urged other investors to use materials from their host countries.

That, he said, will help reduce pressure on the local currency.

Gregory Metcalf, Managing Director of ABL, said the initiative will create a 'virtuous circle' where consumers can afford high quality beer and offer smallholder cassava farmers a guaranteed market for their produce.

ABL is also the producer of 'Chibuku Shake Shake', a replica of a local Ghanaian drink made from Sorghum. Other products of ABL are Club Premium Beer, Castle Milk Stout, Castle Milk Malt, and Club Minerals, among others.

 From Fred Duodu, Ho