05 Sep 2022

Okavango Craft Brewery Company has been commended for embracing the value chain development.

The company manufactures beers by using millet from subsistence farmers in Ngamiland District.

Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Ms Emmah Peloetletse, appreciated the company’s efforts during a recent visit to the premises, noting that what they were doing was in line with the country’s aspiration of achieving a value chain development.

She was impressed to learn that the company was empowering farmers as well as driving the countries employment creation agenda. 

The brewery, which opened doors in 2020, has employed over 30 young people.

The government, she said was prioritising value chain development to unlock more value in the key sectors of the economy, citing agriculture, education and tourism, among others.

The priority, she said, aimed at accelerating economic diversification and youth empowerment.

“I am impressed that the company is a step ahead in doing exactly that. It is pleasing to see private sector coming forth to support government in driving employment creation agenda,” she said.

Ms Peloetletse further noted that government was committed to promoting and supporting private sector participation in an effort to achieve a private sector led economy.

She assured brewery management of government support, noting that their project had the potential to grow and create more employment opportunities, increase production and explore export market.

“We are doing our best to support and effectively facilitate the private sector to foster growth and create a conducive environment for doing business,” she said.

Ms Peloetletse urged management to feel free to contact relevant authorities if they encountered any barriers in the operations.

Giving a background of the project, head brewer, Mr Murray Stephenson said the company started in 2017, following complaints by farmers in the Okavango panhandle that they were not benefiting from their fields due to lack of market and destructive elephants.

Traditionally, some ethnic groups in the panhandle engage in subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry, where they grow millet, sorghum, ground nuts, pumpkins and watermelons using slash-and-burn agricultural methods.

The farmers’ outcry, he said, motivated the project.

Mr Stephenson also noted that farmers were taught to promote conservation of natural resources as well as innovative methods to diversify the wildlife economy and contribute to reducing conflict between people and elephants.

 They were also drilled on new farming techniques to benefit more from their fertile land.

“This brewery is solely established to support rural farmers, create market to return high value for field products as well as creating employment opportunities for the locals,” he added. ends