AB InBev Namibia has selected 10 farmers in the Ohangwena Region to undergo a trial training of producers of quality mahangu crop for its Eagle Lager brewery at Okahandja.
AB InBev launched its production of Eagle Lager, a beer brewed from mahangu, in Namibia during September last year.
The company on Tuesday launched its ‘Lima Nawa’ initiative at the farm of one of the beneficiaries, Ngheendenanye Hauwanga, in the Ohangwena Region’s Ongenga Constituency.
The initiative is about boosting the produce of quality mahangu yields for sustainable Eagle Lager brewing.
The beer is currently for Namibia, as well as for the Kingdom of Swaziland market.
Ohangwena Regional Councillor for the Engela Constituency and member of the National Council, Jason Ndakunda officiated at the launch on behalf of Governor Usko Nghaamwa.
“This is a rare opportunity for you farmers to learn how to produce good-quality mahangu that you can sell back to AB InBev Namibia,” Ndakunda informed the farmers.
He also encouraged people to buy Eagle Lager to support mahangu farmers, on the ground that the beer is made from mahangu.
Nico Kaiyamo, an AB InBev Namibia Northern Trust representative, at the same event said: “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.”
AB InBev’s Legal and Corporate Affairs Manager, Maija-Liisa Hangala told the media on the sidelines that her company is currently brewing the Eagle Lager using mahangu from the sources that she only referred to as the RJN Group.
“It is an ongoing training and starts as from next week,” Hangala replied when journalists asked her about the duration and commencement of the training.
Approached by Nampa via telephone on Wednesday, the company’s spokesperson, Steven Onen said Eagle Lager’s Lima Nawa, which is an Oshiwambo wording simply translating to “produce your mahangu well”, is an AB InBev Namibia Northern Trust initiative supporting mahangu farmers in northern Namibia.
According to Onen, through Lima Nawa, mahangu farmers are to be trained on farming methods that enable them to produce more and better crop yields.
“Farmers will be trained right at their respective farms, and Tate Hauwanga has already started using the new methods,” said Onen.