Despite the agricultural potentials in the Country, food insecurity is endemic in Sierra Leone; worst-still, in an era of global food crisis.
Nevertheless, relentless efforts are being made by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to ensure that agriculture is taken as a business; hence, food insecurity would become a thing of the past.
Over the weekend One Hundred and Twenty (120) Farmers received certificates, after completing Twelve (12) weeks of rigorous Farmer Field School (FFS) training in agriculture, at Regent Village Community Centre.
The training which was organized by UNDP’s Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) program benefited five vegetable growing groups located at Regent, Gloucester, Morthaim, Bathurst and Mongegba.
For Santigie Mansaray, from Mogegba “the program is very good because it capacitated us in agriculture which would in turn develop our lives and the Community in general.”
“Among the skills learnt were land preparation; bed lying; bed construction and sales agencies,” he said.
He said they were also supplied with tools and books and that they went on practical exercises to know the rudiment of farming.
Village Head, Quacy John said that the training is remarkable, as the Village has an agricultural history; but that those engaged in the trade have never received any formal training let alone a certificate.
He lauded the efforts of the trainees for taking time off their busy schedule to go through the training which taught them Business Management and Agriculture; intimating that “this is a clear demonstration of your commitment to agriculture.”
District Director, Adama Kamara said that people often presume that agriculture does not exist in the Western Area, failing to realize that most of the fresh vegetables come from the Western Area.
She accentuated that Regent Village and the Mountain District has agricultural potential and encouraged the trainees to put into practice what they have learnt, pointing out that “this is to complement the President’s Food Security drive”.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFFS) -OFN National Coordinator, Jack Jalloh revealed that this is the start of the training; disclosing that the second phase is the training of farmers who were outstanding during the first phase as facilitators.
He encouraged them to give the program the seriousness it deserves as there are lots in store.
UNDP’s Deputy Country Director, Samuel Harbor said the trainees have taken a bold step out of poverty.
He assured them that UNDP is ready and willing to give support.
“We would give you implements and tools to expand your production, because we want to take this successful pilot program countrywide,” he said.
By Ophaniel Gooding
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