By politico staff writer
Sierra Tropical limited, a pineapple producing company has invested 42 million dollars into pineapple production at Sumbuya, Lugbu chiefdom, in Bo district, southern Sierra Leone.
According to the company’s Manager, Patrick Blake, the company is currently cultivating 300 out of 4,335 hectares already leased to produce 200,000 tons of Pineapple juice per annum and has employed 1,250 people from eleven communities in Lugbu Chiefdom.
He said the Pineapple products manufactured in Sierra Leone are exported to other parts of the world.
Speaking on the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility, he said they have a Community Development Action Plan (C.D.A.P) and that they have engaged the Environmental Protection Agency to guide their operations.
He added that they provide the community with technical support for agricultural activities, support schools with school materials and that they have built a hospital and brought in foreign doctors to treat their staff and their families. He added that they have also provided three boreholes to provide water for the communities.
He went on to note that the company has fixed an annual budget set aside for community development, adding that they sit together with the landowners on a yearly basis to review their development plans and the type of developmental projects that the company should embark on in the interest of the community.
Blake said to avoid disagreement and conflict with the communities, his company engaged the landowners on their objectives before they commenced operation. Some he said some accepted to give out their land on an agreed term, while others refused and so they only work with those who were willing to give out their land to them.
He assured that they will continue to abide by the agreement with the landholding families to ensure a peaceful relationship.
President Julius Maada Bio, some cabinet ministers and staff of Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) have visited the site to see the status of the project.
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