Since the enactment of the Finance Act in March 2016, its implementation has left much to be desired.
It is against this backdrop that the Sorghum Farmers Association is calling on government to implement the Act to the letter; more especially Section 23D- an amendment of the Excise Act of 1982.
“This amended section of the Act encourages local manufacturers of beer to utilize 80% locally produced raw material including sorghum and cassava attracting only 5% excise duty,” explained the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Sorghum Association, Denis Jusu.
Addressing journalists on Saturday at Saluma Hall, Congo-water Old Road, the Chairman explained that the Finance Act of March 2016 is a step in the right direction intended to improve the lives of farmers in the country. “it is also a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to the recently launched post Ebola Recovery priorities on private sector development which aims to create 10,000 agricultural jobs across key value chains and increase growth and competitiveness of 1,000 Small and Medium Scale Enterprises’ (SME’s) across key value chain.”
He said, “with this Act, it is expected that the demand for locally sourced produce will increase hence an increase in the number of Sorghum and cassava farmers with improved and sustainable livelihoods.”
The chairman emphasized the association’s call on government to facilitate the speedy implementation of the Finance Act 2016 so as to encourage local manufacturers to absorb a greater percentage of sorghum resulting in a considerable change in the lives of farmers and their households.
He implored the Agriculture and Trade Ministry to boost the capacity of the Association so that they would be able to acquire processing and storage facility centres in key districts for sorghum processing; also requested that farmers are rendered support in accessing financial grant.
Jusu also suggested that they would want the association to work in close collaboration with Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) so that they would be able to research and introduce high yielding sorghum varieties to enhance the productivity of farmers.
Furthermore, he appealed that the Ministry of Agriculture through its seed certification agency assist in building the capacity of members of the association through training and logistical support.
The chairmen opined that “with all these [suggestions] and the creation of a fair and enabling environment for manufactures actively involved in the use of locally produced ingredients, harvested in Sierra Leone the country will once again thrive.”
Thursday July 07, 2016
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