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Julita Felix
Beer Brewing

Banana beer, locally called Rubisi, is a very popular drink in rural Bukoba. The beverage is sold in the rural areas and most of the consumers are low income people. Even though consumption is higher among men, women also
drink occasionally. Several villages in rural Bukoba have home-based beer brewery businesses and the drink can be found in villages, on roadsides, and even in the local market.

Our visit to Mrs. Julita Brewery’s business took place on
a sunny morning. She started our visit by showing the
large brewing types of banana bunches she uses to
prepare the beer. Julita then explained the steps she takes
for making the beer: peeling off bananas, squeezing
bananas in the canoes to separate juice, and mixing with
sorghum for fermentation. The product has to be
consumed fresh and the beer can only be stored for up to four
days.

By ensuring greater production, Julita can sell her product at a more competitive price. The sale of gallons generates more profits and it can only be accomplished if

she is able to cultivate and buy more bunches of bananas.

Julita’s clients come from the neighboring villages to buy

banana beer when the product is fresh and available for

sale.

In order to improve her business, Julita aims at building a shop on the main road of her village so more customers can have access to her product.

The investment she received from a woman business partner in the US helped Julita to expand her banana brewery business. An increase in the beer production
helped her to think more strategically and set some feasible goals for the future of her usiness.