A team of ‘visionary’ Americans along with representatives from the Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) past Friday met with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the head of Smallholders Commercialization Project (SCP) at the Ministry’s conference room first floor Youyi Biulding.
The objective of the mission is to work with the Agriculture Ministry, SLeCAD and other partners to share experience, ideas and knowledge in mapping and designing a success of promoting Agro-Industrialization for the creation of jobs and wealth in line with the Government’s Agenda for Change to enhance socio-economic development in Sierra Leone.
Before the start of the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Lovell Thomas disclosed that he is happy that the team came to share their experience to help farmers improve their knowledge in order to increase productivity in the country, as he sees the ‘visionaries’ as helpers and not mere investors.
According to Jerry Tindall one of the visionaries, during his presentation in the meeting, their mission is to “reach one, teach one and grow one for self reliance.” He added that they will give a barrel to the farmers which contains all the necessary materials to start small scale farming
He maintained that they will have to organise training for the farmers about the new system which will see people eating and serving.
Martin Miller, CEO of Good Samaritan Ministries disclosed that their aim is to help someone build a better life as they are interested in the poor people, adding that the initiative is to help school going children and bring hope to millions of children around the world through personage leaders to boost agriculture.
He maintained that they have better things to offer to the people than just money as they care about the peoples’ lives like anyone else.
He stated that the project is specifically designed for poultry, to replace some of the products which come from abroad as he believes that Sierra Leone can produce most of these products on their own if given the opportunity as “Good farmers care about their land and families as this is a very important time for Sierra Leone to strengthen Agriculture.”
“We are not coming as evangelists but servants to help people to rise up on their own by investing in their heart, our time and effort but not money,” he added.
According to Ahmed Nanoh, Executive Secretary- SLeCAD, the team came from USA to support the government’s Agenda for Change in a big and holistic way to the agricultural sector as the Smallholders Commercialization Project have already established the ABC which is not enough but with this support, he believes they can work well.
He disclosed that the team will spend ten days in Sierra Leone before their departure to USA to communicate with their partners about their discoveries and future plans.
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