Sierra Leone News: COOPI Boosts Cashew Farmers in Port Loko District

By Abu Bakarr Kanu

COOPI Sierra Leone, a nonprofit organization working on providing humanitarian assistance during emergencies and promote long term development, has donated cracker machine to the Takeleneh Association of cashew farmers to add value of cashew.

Mr Monoarul Islam is the Program Manager of COOPI Sierra Leone. He said that COOPI Sierra Leone started operations in 1971 after the rebel war. He said that organisation had also provided psychosocial supportto children orphaned by Ebola and cater for the vulnerable and needed.

He said that COOPI Sierra Leone through funds from European Union launched socioeconomic development project aiming at improving living conditions of people in rural communities. He stressed that COOPI Sierra Leone also focuses on the cultivation of cashew as crop to improve income of cashew farmers. He pointed out that the organization also promotes the production of cashew in Port Loko, Kambia and Bombali districts.

According to him, cashew production and cultivation has been identified as livelihood for households in the northern region.

He maintained that COOPI is committed to promoting smallholders farmers that engage in cashew cultivation and production.

The field officer of COOPI Sierra Leone, Osman Bangura urged the Takeleneh Association to use the machine for its intended purpose and avoid local method of production of cashew.

The chairman of Takeleneh Association at Bakeloko chiefdom, Moses Sapateh applauded COOPI for the timely donation. He said that the machine will enhance production of cashew.