By Mabinty M. Kamara in Kambia
Being one of the locally producing rice sources in Sierra Leone the German government through the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) has supported Rokel village in Mambolo Chiefdom, Kambia district with agricultural infrastructure to ensure sustainable and affordable farming practices.
The project tilted the Pro-poor Growth for Peace Consolidation in its third phase of implementation (GPC III) according to officials, is part of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany’s Development Cooperation with the Government of Sierra Leone. It’s aimed at promoting economic sectors which create income opportunities for a good number of the population of Sierra Leone. “To support selected agricultural value chains, feeder roads are improved and relevant infrastructure is built (grain stores and wells using labour-intensive approach in the locality.
Central to the success of the project in the community according to the people of Rokel and its environs is the construction of a solar powered grain store which comprises a milling facility, and a dry floor to produce clean processed rice in a hygienic condition that meets market demands and value.
Speaking in an interview with Politico, Mamie Queen Kamara said the project does not only ensure food security in her locality, but also fosters increased production in the community since they now have a spacious storage facility, and less troubles and cost involved in milling the harvested rice. “When we didn’t have this grain facility here, it used to be very difficult for us as we would take our harvested rice on bikes to the neighboring communities where it can be done for a service fee of 40 Leone per bushel but now we can do it here for a fee of 30 Leone with no transportation cost, the rice is already stored in the facility so you just instruct the miller and the bags are removed for processing,” she said.
She said: “When they came here they told us this was our project and we have not been left behind ever since from construction to the finishing. They trained us the management committee members which comprised 60% women on book keeping, and records management to ensure we effectively manage the facility on a cost recovery basis so that we can solve other community needs and also be able to provide maintenance when necessary.”
Another community member Shebora Bangura, 60, also applauded the initiative in their community. However, he said the community being dominated by agricultural activities and given the compelling need for increased rice production in the country as a whole, the German government and other development partners should support them with improved variety of seeds, fertilizers and machines to facilitate mechanized farming in the area. “as you can see most of us are aging and with the growing need for agriculture and quick money making, a good number of our youths are now in big towns for schooling while others have taken bike riding as a career leaving the village for the women and aged.”
The Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Sierra Leone Johannes Behrens expressed satisfaction with the project outcome, noting that it is one of the best investments by the German government for the People of Sierra Leone.
A similar project is also implemented through NACSA in Kwedado in Gbense Chiefdom Kono district where the project which included provision of clean water for the community was described by one of the residents, Hawa Tadantima as a relief from their previous labour and time consuming manual milling processes, saying that the facility also has economic advantage to them as they pay less compared to previously when they used to go to other communities for such services.
Another such intervention through the Bombali District Council implemented by the Action for Advocacy and Development Sierra Leone (AAD-SL) is in the Komaria community, Safroko-Limba Chiefdom in Bombali all aimed at empowering communities to practice sustainable and result driven agricultural practices.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (20/05/24)
