The Honourable Governor of Ohangwena Region, Mr. Usko Nghaamwa in absentia, represented by Honourable Member of Parliament and Councillor of Engela Constituency, Mr Jason Ndakunda officially launched the AB InBev Namibia’s Eagle Lager ‘Lima Nawa’ initiative on Tuesday, 17 July 2018.
Eagle Lager’s ‘Lima Nawa’ which translates to “Produce your Mahangu well”, is an AB InBev Namibia NorthernTrust initiative that supports Mahangu farmers from Northern Namibia and trains them on farming methods that enable them to produce more and better crop yields.
Speaking to the farmers at the launch, Honourable Member of Parliament, Jason Ndakunda said, “This is a rare opportunity for you farmers to learn how to produce good quality Mahangu that you can sell back to AB In Bev Namibia. However, to do this during the present climatic conditions you need to be agriculturally smart, and that’s why you have to embrace the training that we are launching here today. I also want to encourage our people to buy Eagle Lager cause it is made from our own Mahangu because by buying this product, you are supporting the farmers.”
This initiative forms the backdrop for the production of Eagle Lager, the first Mahangu beer locally produced in Namibia. So, not only do the farmers get to produce more and better quality Mahangu and sell their surplus Mahangu to AB InBev Namibia, but they also get to be a part of a very unique and innovative brewing process, and the creation of a truly Namibian product – Eagle Lager.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Nico Kaiyamo, AB InBev Namibia’s Northern Trust Representative reiterated the importance of this initiative saying “This is a great day for all of us involved in this initiative, and hopefully the start of a very long and productive partnership with the farmers in the Northern region. I encourage the farmers here today to maximise the skills to be learnt not only for their own advancement but for the betterment of their communities as a whole”.
Eagle Lager’s “Lima Nawa” is aligned to AB InBev Namibia’s 2025 Smart Agriculture sustainability goal to support farmers supplying the brewer to be skilled, connected and financially empowered resulting in improved productivity, profitability and more efficient and sustainable use of natural resources, such as soil and water. This goal and the initiatives designed to meet it fall under the AB InBev Namibia’s ‘Better World’ strategy.
Explaining what this ‘Better World’ strategy entails, Ms. Maija-Liisa Hangala, Manager Legal & Corporate Affairs at AB InBev Namibia said “The essence of this great organisation is bringing people together for a better world by brewing the highest quality beers, while relying on ingredients from a healthy natural environment and thriving communities. This is what we refer to as our ‘Better World and Sustainable’ strategy. Today we have seen the true manifestation of the spirit of AB InBev Namibia. Ultimately, our goal is to make sure that through our footprint, we help farmers improve their incomes and quality of life”.
To tackle the challenges in the secotor, AB InBev Namibia has partnered with Conservation Agriculture Namibia (CAN) to help facilitate the ‘Lima Nawa’ farmer training. CAN is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that was formed for the purpose of increasing agricultural production in Namibia employing an approach that manages agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment.