Corporate Relations Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), Preba Greenstreet, has said that Ghana’s agriculture sector can grow significantly if manufacturing industry use more local raw material for production.

She said this when she paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Food and Agriculture Fiifi Kwetey in Accra.

Ms. Greenstreet said, GGBL for example, started investing in local raw material sourcing (LRM) over ten years ago but stepped up the level of investment and focus two years ago after government provided excise duty concession on a sliding scale for beverages produced with local raw materials.

She added that there has been a significant growth in the sorghum, maize and cassava supply chains, generating employment and positively impacting the livelihoods in the communities these raw materials are sourced from.

“We have just completed a baseline study on our LRM sourcing to enable us provide specific data on the positive impact of this project which we will share with key stakeholders to underscore the importance of such initiatives in Ghana”, Ms Greenstreet said.

Fiifi Kwetey, Minister of Food and Agriculture indicated government’s commitment to support the development of industries and the entire supply chain to boost the agricultural sector.