encroachments on Lumley area farmers
Farmers at the agricultural farm,
Beach Road, Lumley
If Sierra Leone ever hopes to be a middle-income country by 2030, as projected by the government, agriculture must be one of the sectors that the government needs to pay keen attention to. The agricultural site along the Lumley Beach Road was over 10 hectares in the early 1980s. But, in 2017 that particular site has been narrowed to just over three hectares.
Hundred of houses have been built on the land that was designated for agricultural use. The land has been encroached upon by Sierra Leoneans and foreigners, which has rendered the farmer useless and left them unable to produce rice to feed themselves and their families.
Mansions now line the swamp areas built by government associates, ministry officials, politicians and some corrupt individuals. The land was sold to these people and businesses by the Ministry of Lands, the Ministry of Agriculture and other corrupt groups.
The Beach Road Farmer Association has just concluded a successful harvest of rice on a tiny piece of land and yet still authorities behind the scene want to take such land away from them.
Swampy areas at Lumley Beach Road, which has been used by the Beach Road Farmers Association has also been taken away from them. The land left after the encroachment and land-grabbing is prone to flooding and saltwater infiltration, which damages crops.
The Chair of the Beach Road Farmers Association under the umbrella body of the Western Urban Farmers Association, Kabba Samura, said he has been into farming for over 35 years. “Every district wants to excel in agriculture but even though we are willing to farm we do not have the land to do so. We want to cultivate plenty of rice and other products but we are faced with a lot of challenges that is undermining our work as farmers.”
“The area of land we used to plant at the Lumley Beach Road has been taken away from us and as a result of the obstacles we are faced with, most of our colleague farmers have quit farming.”
According to the Councilor, Percy A. J. Nicholson, of Ward 393 Lumley, the area where these farmers use to plant has been grabbed by some people and had lease it to powerful individuals in society to do their business. “I have engaged authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture to know who gave out those lands meant for farmers to private individuals but no response from them.”
Councilor Nicholson said all of the seedlings government is giving to these farmers has not been fully utilized due to the unavailability of land. “Some people in the Ministry of Agriculture are really involved in such dubious activities and they are sabotaging the government.” He noted that even the small section these people are using presently at the Agriculture compound that they want to take it from them. He called on the government to investigate the said portion of land meant for farming and capture the necessary culprits. “I think these people have been deprived and we must ensure that we promote agriculture in order to develop this country,” the Councilor said
A farmer, Ya-Alimany Conteh, said, “They are depriving us from where we are planting every area that when are going to in order to do our farming we have been chased away. She said most of her colleagues have left because of the hassles that they face. She said they face a lot of abuse from those who want to illegally claim the land.
MJB/8/11/17
By Mohamed J. Bah
Thursday November 09, 2017.