Bombali and Karene Districts Farmers Receive Big Farm Boost
By Abu Bakarr Munu,
The Sierra Leone Network on the Right to Food (SiLNoRF), in collaboration with the Agricultural Food Organization (FAO), has provided a significant increase of agricultural farm implements and farm seeds to local peasant farmers in the Bombali and Karene Districts north of Sierra Leone.
One of the main outcomes of the "Building Resilient Communities through Climate Smart and Market-Driven Production for Improved Food and Nutrition Security Project" is to support rural women with farm inputs and tools. This deliverable has been provided by FAO and SILNoRF with oversight supervision by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Security (MAFFS).
The distribution exercise was overseen by the SiLNoRF Project Manager, Abdulai Kamara, the MAFFS Assistant Director, Aroun Rashid Kamara, the FAO National Nutritionist Facilitator, Edith Bangai Rogers, the FAO Human Resource Officer, Lansana Vandi, and the FAO Communications Consultant, Mohamed Lamrana Jalloh, on 11th and 12th July 2023 in the Rogbin and Makump Communities in the Karene and Bombali Districts, respectively.
Community stakeholders like the Chiefs, Mammy Queens, Chairladies, youth and community representatives, observers, and hangers-on were all present to witness the exercise. The distribution of the farm inputs and tools took place in full view of everyone in attendance in an open and transparent environment.
There were 184 direct beneficiaries of the consignments, including executive members from Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs), of which 124 are in the Bombali area and 60 are in the Karene District. Before distribution, the consignment was sorted and checked for accuracy and consistency with delivery note. Farm tools and seeds included bulb onions, carrots, cucumbers, garden eggs, green seeds, hot peppers, krain-krain seeds, lettuce, okra, spring onions, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and seeds from watermelon were supplied.
According to Abdulai Kamara, Sierra Leone is one of the world's most hungry nations, coming in at number 112 out of 121 countries assessed (2022 Global Hunger Index) . Everyone should be concerned about food security, Kamara continued. He urged and pleaded with them to remember the maxim "Eat what you grow and grow what you eat."
Lansana Vandi, a representative of the FAO, urged the recipients to make the most of the chance and kind gesture and use the facilities provided to them wisely for the welfare of all.
Town Chief Abdulai Sesay and other important players all made speeches targeted toward supporting the government's plan to prioritize agriculture at all levels. Section Chief Edward Sankoh acknowledged the development strides of the government and expressed sincere thanks. The recipients were singing songs of adoration for the benefactors in a happy mood.
