By: Josephine Nyeweah in Kenema district
National Federation of Farmers Sierra Leone (NaFFSL) with support from OSIWA and other partners has ended a day engagement with farmers in the Kenema district with the aim of mobilizing farmers to work as a unit in meeting the food self-sufficiency thereby providing nutritious and guaranteeing food security for the country in 2023 if given the required support.
The president of the National Federation of Farmers Sierra Leone Yatta Sama while addressing the farmers and other stakeholders at the Chinese farm Wahman Abu road in Kenema, assured all of nutritious and guarantee food security for the nation.
A similar meeting has been held in Pujehun, Make it, and Freetown with a similar purpose and aim.
She revealed that come January 2023 NaFFSL as an umbrella organization for farmers in Sierra Leone will work with District Agriculture Officers and staff to embark on farmers’ registration across the nation, adding each farmer will have a farmers’ National Identification Number and must be issued with an ID Card.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sahr Hemore said farming is a very important route in the Country. He disclosed that Minister Abu Karim has the issue of agriculture pasted on his chest where ever he goes. On behalf of the Ministry, he endorsed all that the stakeholders have said at the session about agriculture which he said is very important and good for the nation. He went on that NaFFSL is very important in terms of agriculture, for them at the ministry, they have sensed that NaFFSL came to help the nation to boom in the agricultural sector in the interest of all.
NaFFSL is now in the Country to help lead the fight to achieve food self-sufficiency. He called on all farmers in the nation to come on board the train of NaFFSL. The time has passed all must come into the b, because there is enough money in the bush for everyone to harvest. The Ministry is working directly with NaFFSL and all support to farmers will go through NaFFSL, no bye-pass this time round for any support without NaFFSL.
Talking about the purpose of the engagement at the Chinese farm in Kenema city, the executive secretary who doubles as the National Coordinator NaFFSL Brima Babo said NaFFSL will set up a seven-man committee for Kenema district for six months period that will operate with the District Agricultural Officer and staff to organize and register all farmers in the district.
He at the ministry they do not have an interest in the number of farmers but in the number of registered farmers in Sierra Leone. That is why they in the ministry are happy about the federation and are supporting it to register all it members and give each one National Identification Number that will capture all details about farmers.
Dr. Mohamed Stuba Sheriff said farmers will be registered based on specifications, and support will reach the farmer through NaFFSL focusing on the specialization of the farmers. He pointed out that the ministry officially recognized NaFFSL to coordinate all farmers and as a ministry fully supports the federation to deliver to the nation.
The District Agriculture Officer Kenema district Ganah Conteh expressed his happiness for what the farmers in the district are demonstrating. He all on the farmers to continue supporting each other in achieving their target at all times. He assured all of his office support at all times in ensuring that the dream of the president becomes reality.
The following is the seven-man committee set to support seven-man which includes Safiatu Bockarie as Coordinator, Charles A. Morison as Secretary, Mariama Kalokoh as Women’s Leader, Ibrahim Smith as young farmers leader, Elsie Kondolomoh as organizing PRO, Mariama Kallon as Financial Secretary, Haja Betty Swaray as Treasurer. Adviser 1. is Mathew Tamba Nyuma, Adviser-2 is Fatmata Bah and Adviser-3 is Hawa Giawo.
After which on the 19, NaFFSL engaged Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) senior Management inclusive the Hon. Minister Dr. Abubakarr Karim, the Director General and Chief Agriculture Officer, Dr. Mohamed Ayuba Sheriff, Senior Permanent Secretary, Mr Andrew Sorie and the Direction of Agricultural Extension Service, Mr. Aiah J. Tholie and all the District Agriculture Officers (DAOs).
Discuss the synergy of working together to complete the President vow to achieve food security. Top in the discussions was to understand each other and roles. Register every individual farmer along the Value change with comparative advantage of specialize activity.
