Zambian Breweries Cheers Cassava Farmers Fueling Eagle Lager’s Growth
Zambian Breweries has reaffirmed its commitment to agricultural transformation and rural development by honouring smallholder cassava farmers in Luapula Province, whose produce fuels the brewing of the iconic Eagle Lager.
At the Cassava Farmers Day held in Milenge, the company celebrated the success of its cassava out-grower scheme, a public-private initiative aimed at empowering local farmers while contributing to the production of cassava-based beer products. Since its inception, the scheme has provided a consistent market for farmers, boosting incomes and livelihoods in Zambia’s cassava heartland.
Speaking on behalf of the Provincial Minister, Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Prudence Mwansa Chinama hailed the initiative as a blueprint for inclusive economic development.
“Zambian Breweries’ cassava out-grower programme is a strategic partnership with government, aligned with the ‘Plant Zambia, Feed Zambia, Build Zambia’ agenda,” she said. “It shows how private sector innovation can support rural industrialization and wealth creation.”
Zambian Breweries Country Director Thais Cavinatto echoed this sentiment, praising farmers as the foundation of the company’s success. “We celebrate you, the unsung heroes behind Zambia’s most loved beer products,” she said. “Quality beer starts with quality ingredients, and your dedication ensures that.”
Eagle Lager, Eagle Extra Lager, and Mosi Light all feature cassava sourced from Luapula, giving these beers a unique taste while embedding local agriculture into the brand’s identity. The company has invested in farmer training, access to inputs, and sustainable practices, helping growers shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
Musika Managing Director Reuben Banda commended Zambian Breweries as a model corporate partner. “This is one of the best examples of a company providing real value, guaranteed markets, access to inputs, technology, and extension services,” he noted.
The programme has also empowered women and youth through Village Savings Groups, further deepening its social impact. With annual growth in demand for Eagle Lager at 48%, the company announced plans to expand the cassava sourcing initiative into new districts and bring more farmers on board in the upcoming season.
Ms Chinama closed by quoting the President’s vision: “The path to Zambia’s prosperity runs through the Luapula fields. Cassava is our past, present, and future.”
