Pa Alimamy Turay, the Chief of Madina town in Tonko Limba Chiefdom in Kambia District has on Friday, October 17, 2020, urged the Government of Sierra Leone to support farmers with tools, pesticides, fertilizers, etc., in order to ensure good productivity.
In Madina the residents grow cassava, potato, groundnut, rice, etc., and agriculture is the major source of income for the chiefdom’s inhabitants.
Turay said that people used to come from other countries to buy their products like sesame seeds, groundnut and other agricultural products.
He said that over the last five years they have not produced much from their farms because they lack modernized farm tools and farm literacy which could educate them on how to get good farming and good products after harvest.
He added that government’s support for Agriculture in Sierra Leone would create jobs for the youths and also make them self-dependent.
“Youths could only involve into bad act if they remain idle, but creating jobs would keep them busy and cause them not to think about any negative actions,” he emphasized.
He commented that if Sierra Leone as a nation focused on agriculture, “the country would be less dependent on imported rice”.
“I used to do subsistence and commercial farming before, but now I am only involved in small scale farming because there is no support,” he added.
He invited potential investors in Agriculture to come to Tonko Limba Chiefdom where “land is available for anyone who may want to farm in the Chiefdom”.
He admitted that they lack the opportunities to carry on farming activities, and reiterated the need for government to support agriculture.
He noted specific need for farm equipment and seeds to ensure effective cultivation within the chiefdom.
By Ibrahim S.Bangura
21/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7935