The German Agro Action (GAA) Sierra Leone “Welt Hunger Hilfe” on Tuesday 22nd April 2008 organized a one day transfer project workshop on cash crop production at the Kenema District Council hall along Maxwell Khobe Street.
The workshop was organized for cooperative members; produce inspectors, other stakeholders and staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in the Eastern region.
Giving the background and objective of the project and overview of the workshop Mr. Franz Mostl of German Agro Action said that in Africa his organization is called the ‘Welt Hunger Hilfe.’
Mr. Mostl disclosed that the ‘welt hunger life’ is one of the largest private German NGO, which manages to use about one quarter of its funds from private donors in Germany and the other three quarters from the German government, the European Union and the United Nations.
He revealed that stabes project is funded by the European Union and the overall objective is to raise income and the well-being of the household through improved production and marketing of cocoa and coffee in the Eastern region.
Mr. Mostl said ‘welt hunger life’ has been working in Sierra Leone since 1985 but however ceased operation in 1997 due to the war. Since that time, their operation started after the war with a food security project with the aim of improving the agricultural production system in the country. Deputizing the Resident Minister east Hon. William Juana Smith, the Deputy Secretary in the provincial administration F.M. Giba expressed dismay that even though Sierra Leone has the vast resources endowed with a small open economy yet still the country continues to suffer in prolonged deterioration and low standard of living.
He said this unfavorable economic situation is having a negative impact on the people of this country, adding that most of those who live in the rural areas depend on agricultural production for their livelihood. He further went on to say that; these rural people have not been able to maximize income from their agricultural activities and are therefore forced to endure the negative effect on food price, product price reduction and other basic commodities.
He expressed the hope that, the formation of peace cooperatives would improve on the quality production of cocoa and coffee in the eastern region. Other contributions came from Mr. E.B. Mustapha from the Eastern farmer’s multi-purpose cooperative agency Mr.Metzger Brown from Minimum Cocoa Growers Cooperative and Mr. Ibrahim Moseray from the Kpeya Agricultural Enterprise.
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