By Politico Staff Writer
Sierra Leone Seeds Certification Agency (SLeSCA) has met with farmers in Moyamba, Bonthe, Pujehun, Bo, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to popularize the National Seeds Act.
While popularizing the Act on the 22nd March 2024 at the Wizard Hall in Bo Southern Sierra Leone, the Executive Director of SLeSCA, Dr. Robert Chankada said the institution came into existence through an act of parliament some time ago and that there are farmers involved in seedling who do not know about the very Act seeking to protect them.
SLeSCA is to certify those involved in seedling and ensure the right seeds are in the country.
Dr. Chankada said his institution has a responsibility to ensure the Feed Salone Agenda of President Julius Maada Bio succeeds and farmers get good seeds for them to realize good yield.
He said when the agency started effective work in 2021 their objective was for government to stop the importation of seeds into the country and to succeed in that direction they have to train, guide, and protect farmers to see the right seeds for food security.
"The Feed Salone Agenda of the President is above food Security alone," he said.
SLeSCA’s Executive Director noted that most seed actors do not know that there is a law that protects the seed industry and farmers who are using the seeds, and narrated how in 2021 seeds came into the country which they found out were not good for the farmers, intercepted the consignment at the border, and stopped it from entering the country.
"We are training our farmers effectively to produce good seeds for the country," he said.
In the area of monitoring, he said that the Ministry of Finance has agreed for SLeSCA to employ more field staff.
"We have selected five seed growers in every district so they will grow more seeds for the district, and we will further employ one field staff to monitor the seed growers in all the districts. We are going to put one technician, give them mobility to monitor the five farmers weekly," he said
In his contribution, Deputy Minister 2 in the Ministry of Agriculture, Sahr Hemore said the popularization of the Seeds Act means a lot to those who came for the workshop and those who were not selected to attend.
He said with the education and awareness given to the farmers, they will not buy fake seeds, adding that the essence of the popularization is to promote reliable and viable seeds for people to know between good and bad seeds in the country.
"When people have bad yield they associate it with traditional belief but it is due to the wrong seeds used," he said
Hemore said as a government they will provide the necessary tools, seedlings, and opportunities for farmers in the country as the government is committed to making Feed Salone succeed.
He stressed it is the responsibility of Sierra Leoneans to monitor agricultural materials sent to their communities for farming to prevent them from being carted away.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (28/03/24)
