The Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company (SLPMC) has held a one day sensitization meeting with produce dealers, agents and exporters at the Holy Trinity Parish Hall along Blama road in Kenema city.
Addressing the meeting, the chairman of the programme who is also the Deputy Provincial Secretary East Jaya Samuka thanked the SLPMC for their good initiatives for not only educating the farmers but everybody. He disclosed that the former produce marketing Board which was known as the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board (SLPMB) has been replaced by the SLPMC, adding that the government has thought it necessary to bring back produce marketing in operation as it will provide job opportunity for the youths. He mentioned that in the past SLPMB provided employment facilities for people which enabled parents to educate their children.
Mr. Samuka said the new marketing company will not be monopolized by government but will encourage the private sector to produce quality cocoa in the country.
Contributing the executive secretary of the committee of marketing produce Ibrahim Turay highlighted the role the company will be operating on with the private business people. Mr. Turay spoke about the importance of the company that it will allow private people to operate and that the company will be supervised by government personnel.
Adding that they will strengthen the Inspectors in the country to ensure that, no body produces substandard cocoa that will dent the image of the nation.
He appealed to exporters and dealers to allow farmers and agencies to carry out their own duty in producing good quality cocoa which will earn them a better standard of living.
In his statement the Mayor of the Kenema City Council (KCC) chief Brima Kargbo commended SLPMC and the business people for their developmental programs in the country and appealed to the new company to meet the grassroots people and sensitize them about the new system, which he says will yield a better dividend.
Mayor Kargbo further pointed out that the major causes of poor cocoa production in the country is poverty and he appealed to the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company (SLPMC) to help the farmers in their production process.
The Representative of the District Director of Agriculture Maxwell Sheku Bockarie in his contribution encouraged all and sundry especially the farmers, exporters and agents to cooperate with the company for the development of the nation.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Isatu Mustapha expressed delight over the incorporation of produce people and encouraged cocoa produce dealers and exporters to work hand in glove with the new company in the interest of all and the nation.
She added that the people will only benefit from the new marketing company when they operate with the company and appealed to them all to forget about their indifferences and work as people of the same nation saying that development is a gradual process. Mary Sesay a produce dealer moved the vote of thanks.
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