The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka has engaged farmers in Torma Bum on the Government’s ‘Feed Salone’ strategy and also monitored the activities of the Regional Rice Value Chain Project and Sierra Leone Rice Agro Industry Cluster project in Bum Chiefdom, Bonthe District.
The essence of the visit to one of the rice bowls areas in the country was to meet with farmers and explain to them the Government’s ‘Feed Salone’ strategy and to monitor the activities of both projects in the chiefdom and assess the progress made so far.
Responding to the farmers and community stakeholders, the Minister called on the farmers to embrace the ‘Feed Salone’ strategy being the priority of the President, he wants us to feed ourselves and Torma Bum is central in driving this initiative with two irrigation projects ongoing in the chiefdom.
Rice production, he said, is the first item in the Feed Salone strategy, and they are not going to cultivate rice everywhere, but Torma Bum is among the areas identified apart from Mambolo, Samu, Gbondapi and Rhome, to ensure that they focus on effective rice production.
“The government is going to spend on agriculture, but the money will not be enough. The reason he has engaged the commercial banks in the country to embark on agricultural financing for loans to be given to the private sector players at a considerate interest rate” alluded the minister.
He added that , women and youths are central in the Feed Salone, initiative though most of the youths are engaging in bike riding they should also consider agriculture as an alternative livelihood, and for the women president wants them to benefit from their labor, those are the issues the Feed Salone wants to address.
Minister Kpaka disclosed that when the country used to export rice it was coming from Torma Bum, and they want farmers to engage in large-scale production.
He officially announced to them that the President will be launching the* ‘Feed Salone ‘ initiative on October 16 , on World Food Day .* in Torma Bum.
Introducing the team from the ministry, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Andrew Sorie, reiterated that the ministry is committed to the ‘Feed Salone’ program being one of the first pillars of the five-game changers of the government.
The Head of Projects in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Jack Jalloh recalled that Torma Bum is known for the large scale of land for rice production, and plenty of rice used to be produced there. He called on the farmers to concentrate on rice production like what used to happen in the past and to work with the two projects to enhance rice production especially when the irrigation would start this year.
Welcoming the minister and his team, the Paramount Chief of Bum Chiefdom, in the Bonthe District, PC Alex Kaipumu expressed excitement about the minister’s visit, especially with the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative, he believes Torma Bum is going to be a critical player to drive the initiative.
“The people of Torma Bum are ready to support the ‘Feed Salone ‘initiative we just need the requisite tools to enhance rice production. The access to finance is very difficult for the agri-business companies. We’re not crying anybody down but without finance, it will be difficult to have effective rice production. “We want to advance more in technology but we want them to be also listening to the farmers, “he noted.
He disclosed that farmland has been given to the Regional Rice Value Chain Project to construct the irrigation scheme from Torma to Gondama, and the lease agreement has been signed.
PC Kaipumu highlighted that if the Feed Salone must have its root in Torma Bum the road must be fixed to attract more investors in the chiefdom.
The President of the National Farmers Federation Sierra Leone (NAFFSL), Yatta Samah, commended the minister for visiting farmers in Torma Bum particularly when the president has identified Torma Bum for the launching of the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative on World Food Day.
”If cannot feed ourselves as a nation it will be difficult for us to succeed as a nation. Farming is time-bound; we need quality seeds and fertilizer to increase rice production,” she added.
She went on to say that the countries need a seed bank as a way to stop bringing food from other countries, noting that the country has good land for farming, and if the farmers are given the required support, they need the feed Salone initiative will succeed.
The Project Coordinators of the Regional Rice Value Chain project and the Sierra Leone Rice Agro Industry Cluster, Abdulai Bun Wai and John Sinah, and other technical staff accompanied the minister on a conducted tour to inspect the activities of both projects in the chiefdom.
The RRVC Project is currently rehabilitating two stores, constructing foundational platforms for two integrated mills, and constructing rural markets.
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