By Politico Staff Writer
In an effort to ensure food security in Sierra Leone, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Sierra Leone has supported 1,500 vegetable producers with tools and seedlings.
The farmers were mostly women and youths, drawn from 5 districts.
The gesture, according FOA’s Communication Expert ,Mohamed Lamrana Jalloh is part of the implementation of a project named“building resilient communities through climate smart and market -driven production for improved food and nutrition security in Sierra Leone’’ sponsored by the Irish Government.
The project “seeks to complement Government’s efforts in reducing food insecurity and improve nutrition. It facilitates access to quality agricultural inputs such as improved variety of vegetable seeds and farm implements,” he said in a report .
While presenting the vegetable production inputs to project beneficiaries in Bombali, Port Loko, Karene, Moyamba and Western Rural Districts, Lansana Vandi the Mission’s representative said ending hunger and malnutrition remains a critical challenge in Sierra Leone, seen as a fragile economic state with persistent food crises that have worsened in the past years.
“The extreme climate vulnerability, conflicts between livestock and crop farmers, rising inflation affecting food and fuel prices as well as agricultural inputs prices have all contributed to food insecurity in Sierra Leone,’’ he said.
He admonished the project beneficiaries to make the best out of the opportunity given them by ensuring that they use the tools and seeds for the purpose for which they were intended. He expressed the desire of FAO to extend the support to other vegetable farmers especially women and youths.
In his statement, the Deputy Director of Extension in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Haroun Rashid Kamara said the government is committed to making Sierra Leone a food secured state. He said the partnership between FAO and the MAFS received many commendations from project beneficiaries and implementing partners.
“FAO is a worthy partner, and we must all ensure their initiative to support vegetable producers in Sierra Leone through the climate smart and market- driven production for improved food and nutrition security become a success story,’’ he continued.
He urged beneficiaries to claim ownership of the project as they stand to benefit more.
Abdulai Kamara, Project Manager, Sierra Leone Network of the Right to Food – SILNoRF during the distribution at Makump, Paki Massabong Chiefdom Bombali District said SILNoRF has partnered with many organizations, but FAO’s support is unique. He said the FAO representation always manifests its commitment in reducing food insecurity and improving nutrition in Sierra Leone through the funding and implementation of impactful projects in its area of operations.
“Agriculture is now the flagship programme of the Government of Sierra Leone, we will soon begin to see the implementation of more agricultural project than ever before,’’Kamara stated.
Team Lead, Sustainable livelihood at Cotton Tree Foundation Sierra Leone, Alimamy Bangura,in his statement noted that to attain food sufficiency, citizens must grow what they eat and eat what they grow. He urged beneficiaries especially women farmers to grab this opportunity and make the best of it.
Mariama Seray-Kondeh, vegetable producer and one of the project beneficiaries in Moyamba District said she has been engaged in vegetable production for over 10 years as a source of income.
“I want to assure the FAO and its partners that we won’t disappoint them.’’ She added that she has benefitted a lot from the trade and admonished her fellow farmers to make the best of the opportunity given to them.
Sarah Kamara, a vegetable farmer in Newton, Western Rural District expressed delight and gratitude to FAO and partners for supporting women farmers in Newton. “With the training I’ve acquired, and the seeds and farming implements received, I can now go back to my farm and plant my seeds to enable me sustain my family,” she said.
Apart from the 1,500 direct farmer beneficiaries of the project, 11, 445 people could also benefit from the project, according to FAO officials .
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