The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba has called on women in the country to engage in sustainable Fish Farming activities that would serve as alternative source of livelihoods.
Speaking at a ceremony where Agriculture Equipment and other inputs were symbolically presented to Women in Agriculture with support from UN WOMEN at Ma-Nyande Village, Tinkoko, Bo District, Mrs. Dugba spoke about the enormous potentials women stand to benefit from in the field of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The Minister who also received a consignment of Aquaculture Equipment and other Inputs, donated by UN WOMEN through Women in Agriculture, said as one of her ministry’s flagship programmes, they will ensure women in every part of the country are encouraged to engage in Aquaculture.
She looks forward to a symbiotic relationship between her ministry and ministry of agriculture to promote government’s avowed Feed Salons programme.
She said, “Mining has not done much for us in terms of sustainable development.” she thanked UN WOMEN for the gesture. She appealed to development partners for more support to enable her ministry realize its goals.
A representative of UN WOMEN, Kadijatu Jalloh said, their mandate is to support government’s agenda, especially those relating to the economic empowerment of women.
She pledged her organisation’s continued support to ensure women and youths are engaged in sustainable commercialised farming.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Teneh Dick, commended President Bio for his visionary leadership and trust in women as leaders.
She stressed the need to practice mechanised farming and assured farmers of her ministry’s desire to enhance the implementation of the Feed Salone Programme.
President of the National Federation of Sierra Leone Farmers, Yatta Sama, highlighted strides women are making in promoting sustainable economic development in the areas of agriculture and fisheries while advocating for more assistance.
President of Women in Agriculture Network, WIAN, Juliet Lavalie said, their vision is to foster strategic partnership that would break barriers and promote economic empowerment of women.
The team was later led on a conducted tour of facilities in the Fish Farming Experimental Station in Bo by the minister of fisheries, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary Elizabeth Hawa Ellie, Director of Fisheries Kadijatu Jalloh and other staff of the ministry.