By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security, announced the failure of the Youth Farm project, an initiative by President Bio aimed at enhancing food availability, reducing rice imports, minimizing youth unemployment, and alleviating poverty.
Dr. Yumkella made this revelation during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Conference Hall on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The Youth Farm project, launched in March 2021 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, was designed to create over ten thousand job opportunities for young people across the country.
Highlighting the project’s shortcomings, Dr. Yumkella stated that the current mileage grade in the country stands at 36, far below the target set by President Bio to achieve two hundred more mileage grades. This goal aims to benefit an additional two hundred communities, which would be integrated into six agricultural clusters to increase the mileage grade from 120 to 300. The European Union is expected to contribute 57 mileage grades, with an agreement anticipated to be signed by September.
Dr. Yumkella mentioned that the World Bank has expressed support for the mileage grade agricultural project, and an official announcement by President Bio is forthcoming. He assured Sierra Leoneans that the country is on track to become the largest mileage grade hub among four or five neighboring countries. Two weeks ago, the Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency visited Sierra Leone to assess the project.
Emphasizing the importance of environmental enforcement, Dr. Yumkella highlighted issues around the Bumbuna area, where mining activities are contaminating the dam. He assured that efforts are underway to involve a younger generation of experts to address these challenges and revitalize the Bumbuna project. Dr. Yumkella concluded by addressing the reasons for the Youth Farm project’s failure, citing problems such as inadequate mechanization, lack of commitment, and delays in delivering inputs. He stressed the need for sustainability and the involvement of the private sector to ensure the project’s success in the future
