Vice President Alhaji Chief Sam Sumana has formally commissioned the signing of the Sierra Leone chapter of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) in an auspicious ceremony held yesterday at the Miatta conference centre.
Addressing local and international delegates at the conference the Vice President said the signing of the CAADP contract will signal the commencement of the implementation of the National Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme in Sierra Leone.
He assured all stakeholders of governments commitment and support towards realizing the goals and objectives of the NSADP which is in line with the CAADP process.
Chief Sam Sumana went on to urge all Ministers and Parliamentarians to personally involve in supporting the NSADP.
“We can be hopeful to the programme if we make it a point of duty and responsibility to live by example. Let us persevere to get involved in food production in our Constituencies by establishing demonstration farms in any of the priority crops identified by the NSADP. Our collective efforts in this regard will be an impetus to our compatriots” VP added.
The Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security; Dr Joseph Sam Sesay who also doubles as the CAADP champion Minister for Africa said the two day conference is a clear demonstration of governments determination to make agriculture the engine for socio- economic growth and development through commercialization and private sector promotion.
The Minister disclosed to delegates that the NSADP/CAADP programme will develop 241,000 hectares of irrigable swamps across the country and further rehabilitate storage and processing facilities and equipment.
Statements were also delivered by representatives of NEPAD, FARA, FAO, ECOWAS and Ministers of various Ministries. The conference ends today
By William Freeman
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