The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) has doled out deserving awards to nine farmers from the provinces in cognizance of their resilience and courage in promoting agriculture in the country.
In a brief inaugural ceremony held past weekend at Fredham’s Entertainment Complex Wilkinson Road-a session that was filled with dignitaries, renowned and prosperous farmers, the Programme Coordinator Mohamed Tejan-Kellah said that the aims of the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Project (RFCIP) and the Rehabilitation and Community Poverty Reduction Programme are to give support to farmers, and also recognize the good work they have rendered for the development and actualization of the food security drive.
He revealed that for the past two years, they have held several sensitization fora in the media and at community levels to educate farmers on the need to improve their farming activities for the purpose of achieving commercialized farming among rural farmers.
He noted that considering the fact that 70% of the country’s population comprised of farmers, careful selection was made to bring out those who have proven so well over the years to be qualified for the award. “This is just a way of motivating rural farmers to boost their activities in the farming sectors and the provision of meaningful support to them” he asserted.
Claiming that the project is among the best farm development projects in Africa sponsored by IFAD, Tejan-Kellah maintained that there is a future provision to give tractors to farmers who could not afford, adding that through the rural finance programme, they will also render financial assistance to farmers in order to boost their work.
Mr. Tejan-Kellah said that their intention to improve agriculture is “enormous and fantastic.” He said in the next three years, there is a plan to establish a farmer radio station to keep farmers constantly abreast with farming activities and sensitize them on ways of improving farming in their communities.
Representatives of the National Association of Farmers expressed delight over the initiative and said that over the years farmers have been faced with several constrains in the art of producing and even some partial processing. He expressed hope that the initiative be taken to other parts of the country to ensure a holistic approach in solving the plight of farmers in their endeavours to boost agriculture in the country.
Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) representative Daniel Forna said that his organisation, also being a proud collaborator, is ready to provide other imputs to enhance a meaningful approach to the RFCIP and the RCPRP. He urged farmers to engage themselves in commercial farming other than subsistence farming.
Prior to the distribution of prizes, the Deputy Minister of MAFFS Alie Badara Mansaray praised farmers by saying “farmers are the best and most important people in the world. They have contributed to the economies in the world including the USA, China etc.”
On this account, he said, government has developed policies to boost production through the Smallholder Commercialization project, which, he claimed has brought about development in both infrastructure and a drive to commercialized farming.
The prizes were distributed in three categories with three personalities in each group, 3rd runners up, 2nd runners up and grand prize winners. The grand prize winners who received two million Leones included Haja Sundu Marah from Koinadugu District, Dr. Bockarie Mansaray Cobba from Kailahun and Alhaji Wurie Jalloh from Port Loko District.
The second runners up who received one million two hundred thousand Leones (Le 1, 200,000) each included Chief Abdul Sesay of Bombali, Momoh Rahman Fofanah from Tonkolili and Pa Kai Kamara from Port Loko District.
The third runners up who included Chief Alie Bala Sama Marah of Koinadugu District, Foday Turay from Kono and Madam Agnes Mamie Gbanie from Bo District received eight hundred thousand Leones (Le 800, 000) each.
By Poindexter Sama
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