Contracts are signed and lease fees paid on plots of land for the construction of training centres as part of my agric-education initiative – the first phase in my plan to develop agricultural production across Sierra Leone.
Earlier this month, I launched my plan to construct modern irrigation training sites in all four provincial regions of the country. Now with sites secured in Bumbuna Town (northern region), Port Loko City (northwest region), Bo City (southern region) and Kenema City (eastern region), construction can get underway. A total sum of 10,000 USD (New Leones 170,000) was paid to the landowners of the proposed training sites.
The sites will be used to teach modern irrigation methods to local communities. The impact of global warming on agriculture and food production across the world illustrates the urgent need for us to adopt modern farming technologies, which offer a more sustainable methods of farming.
Throughout my efforts to develop agricultural production across Sierra Leone I have sought to work closely with local communities, that’s why I was so thrilled that, on behalf of the host chiefdoms, PC Alimamy Bockarie Yallan Koroma of Dansogoia Chiefdom in Bumbuna Town expressed delight over the selection of his community. He said over the years, Bumbuna has been known for its huge mining potential, and that the establishment of the training centre will demonstrate to local people that agriculture offers an alternative livelihood.
We’ve also had backing from the government for this project – Presidential Spokesman and Resident Minister of Northwest Region, Honourable Dr Alhaji Alpha Kanu said that he is delighted to embrace the project and has assured us of his ultimate support for the sustainability of the project.
My vision is to not only end hunger in Sierra Leone, but to turn us into exporters of agriculture products, to use our rich soil to grow crops that we can sell around the world. That’s why I set up Golley Agriculture Development, to make this vision a reality for Sierra Leone. Overall, I hope to identify 100 acres of land from all 14 provincial districts of the country to establish commercial and communal farming, creating a network of sustainable farms in rural communities across Sierra Leone.
A recent report by the World Food Programme (WFP) said that Sierra Leone’s food insecurity has further deteriorated with over one million people (15%) facing severe hunger. The WFP also said that it urgently needs additional funding of US$2.6 million to provide emergency cash transfers to 46,000 people in Tonkolili, Port Loko and Pujehun districts where levels of food insecurity are highest.
It doesn’t have to be this way – we have all the tools we need to pull ourselves out of this crisis, and to transform our country for the better. Through Golley Agriculture Development, I’m working hard to play my part in building this better future. I hope that the construction of these training sites mark one of the first milestones on our long road towards food security in Sierra Leone.
