Sierra Leone News: Port Loko Council to Expand District Farm

By Abu Bakarr Kanu from Port Loko

Port Loko District Council has embarked on harvesting of over 200 hectares of district rice farm at Makulu village in Masimera Chiefdom, Port Loko District.

Speaking at the symbolic harvesting of the rice at Makulu village, the Chairman of Port Loko District Council, Mr Ibrahim Santigie Bangura told Premier News that they established the district farm to complement efforts of the government and President Julius Maada Bio in ensuring food self-sufficiency in the country, as prescribed under the New Direction agenda.

He pointed out that Port Loko district has huge agricultural potential to contribute immensely to the economy of the Sierra Leone.

He said that Council is using an holistic approach to undertake such initiative to achieve food security, and provide a district seed bank. He said that Council will expand the initiatives to other chiefdoms and wards in district.

Mr Bangura said that the people of Makulu village should count themselves lucky to host such a farm which crates employment for locals and increate food production.

The Chief Administrator of Port Loko District Council, Mr Raman Tom Farmar said that Council took the initiative to boost food security in Sierra Leone. He said that the funds which were invested in the farm were raised from taxpayers.

He said that the project has created employment and led to the construction of culvert linking the communities to the main chiefdom headquarters town.

Mr Tom Farmar said that council will expand the project to other communities to enhance food production.

District Agriculture Officer, Charles Alpha Bangura said that Port Loko District Council is directly complementing efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture to promote food security. He said after harvest, the produce will be kept as seed bank to expand the project. He promised to provide the expertise to ensure that council achieves its goal.

Councillor Ibrahim Conteh of Ward 252 in Constituency 071, said that the establishment of the farm at Makulu village has brought a lot of benefits to the community including the creation of employment for the youth. He said that such a project will go a long way in improving the living standard of the community.

The District Rice Farm Project of Port Loko District Council fits into the Zero Hunger Strategic Review (ZHSR) report which was launched recently. The objectives of the report include improving food security and nutrition in Sierra Leone.

In a situation where food insecurity permeate the entire country, with rural areas most hit (59.7%) compared to urban areas (25.1%), such a project will improve food security and nutrition at district level.