THE WORLD FOOD DAY CELEBRATIONS
AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE GROUNDS IN KOIDU TOWN, KONO DISTRICT, KONO
ON 16TH OCTOBER 2006

Mr. Chairman

President of the National Association of Farmers
of Sierra Leone

Cabinet Ministers
Members of Parliament
Traditional Rulers

Your Excellencies, members of the Diplomatic
Corps

Members of Civil Society Movements
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:

A little over four years ago, I pledged to the people of this country to work earnestly to provide the enabling environment required to make Sierra Leone self sufficient in food production through increased agricultural productivity. This celebration of the World Food Day today, gives us the opportunity to assess how far we have come along the road to achieving our goal of self-sufficiency in food production.

The need to focus on improving agricultural productivity immediately after the war was to address the twin problems of hunger and poverty which had become widespread as a result of bad governance and the ensuing conflict. During the war, many farmers lost their lives and some others were forced to abandon their farms and run to safety. As no nation can move forward without enough food for its citizens, my Government made the restoration of farms and improvement in agricultural productivity a priority for setting the nation back on its feet.

In an agrarian society such as ours, the production of food has added value in that it encompasses whole communities and is the basic source of livelihood for members of the community. We cannot achieve food self-sufficiency however, by continuing to rely on our traditional methods of farming alone and must now adopt modern methods of agricultural production if we are to increase the productivity of our farmers. We cannot achieve food self-sufficiency either if we do not produce enough to feed ourselves and even to export to other countries. We must therefore now move away from subsistence to commercial farming on a large scale than we have been used to do.

Growing our own high quality food and in sufficient quantities to satisfy the needs of our people has many advantages. Economically, locally grown food is cheaper and saves us from spending scarce foreign exchange on the importation of large quantities of our staple food. The nutritional value of the food we consume is also higher because it is consumed fresh unlike the imported food items that sometimes spend so much time in transportation and storage that they may lose much of their nutrients.

Mr. Chairman, hunger and poverty have been recognised as potential sources of instability and chronic shortages of food can compromise the independence, sovereignty and even the integrity of the state. That is why we have embarked upon a programme of Food Security as a weapon against hunger and poverty. All the concerns that we have expressed so far, underlie my pledge to work towards making no Sierra Leonean to go to bed hungry by the year 2007. The declaration therefore means far more than just putting some food in some body's mouth. It entails hard work, the application of modern methods of farming and above all, adequate support to the farming communities. We have made considerable progress on all fronts towards achieving this goal since my declaration in 2002.
Mr. Chairman, assessment of achievements made so far can best be done through food production, vulnerability and nutrition surveys which are analysed through proven statistical analysis. However, even visual estimation of farm sizes and crop yields along our trunk roads in particular, could give a fair estimation of the incremental acreages cultivated and yields realised since 2002. Let me quickly add that there are more farms cultivated in remote and less accessible areas than on the provincial highways.

Going by surveys supported by the Ministry of Agriculture in consonance with major stakeholders such as UNDP, FAO, WFP, UNICEF etc., our country's self-sufficiency in rice by end of 2005 harvest stood at 69% while that for cassava and sweet potato exceeded 100% meaning that the production of these two crops had exceeded the national demand. Let me again add here that these two crops are relatively easier to cultivate and are less risky to investment than rice cultivation.

However, the challenge posed by the increased production of cassava and potato is that they are perishable crops. We therefore need to focus now on the processing, value-addition and packaging of cassava and potato products to increase their shelf life and ensure that they are available all-year-round. In addition, there is the Presidential Initiative on cassava which aims at industrial cassava production of such products as methanol, starch, methane and others from which we can generate electricity or produce bio-diesel. Modalities for this intervention are being worked out with technocrats from Nigeria working on a similar scheme.

May I take this opportunity to mention here that I have been also informed about an improved variety of cassava now grown in China which is easier to grow and to process. In my determination to upgrade the quality and increase the variety of our agricultural products, I have made contacts with the Chinese Embassy to make this variety available to our farmers as well as the machinery for cultivating and processing the cassava. This is a matter I wish to pursue further.

Mr. Chairman, one major reason why the increased productivity of these two crops has not made a significant impact on our hunger situation is due mostly to our attitudes, values and food preferences which make it difficult for this nation to accept alternative food crops to rice. Arguably, some communities accept cassava and potato either on alternate days or as one of the three meals consumed daily. It is recorded that during the interregnum when food imports were banned, cassava and potato replaced or heavily substituted rice which was scarce at that time. This means that we can accept other foodstuffs as long as we decide to accept alternatives to rice. Perhaps we would all be diversifying our diet if we tried to introduce some variety in the preparation of other foodstuffs other than rice.

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, the increase in rice production and particularly mechanised rice production has posed new problems, largely for Master farmers. Because of the large acreages ploughed by tractors operating continuously, about 50 to 60 acres of rice may mature for harvesting at the same time. The quantum of harvest required could best be done by combined harvesters, otherwise scattering of the grains may start before harvest. This is however more applicable to lowlands (bolis, riverine grasslands, mangroves) where there are fewer obstacles to tractor and harvester operation. Also because operations on these lowlands are continuous, the actual cost of subsequent ploughing operations could be greatly reduced as opposed to operating virgin soils.

The use of harvesters also translates into high threshing load which cannot be easily managed by manual threshing. For large quantities of rice, the use of proper drying floors and grain stores could help to reduce the current high rate of post harvest losses estimated at 30 - 35%. of stock. The use of relatively large rice mills (output of about 1 metric ton per hour), which are now being popularised, could further reduce post harvest losses and encourage even single persons to cultivate large acreages in anticipation of mechanized millings. This will also free the women from traditional milling which tells on their health and deprives them of productive and leisure time.

Mr. Chairman, Sierra Leone like other agrarian economies, realised substantial benefits from agricultural exports in the early 80s but due to the present low quality of cocoa and coffee produced in Sierra Leone, coupled with the neglect of these two crops during our civil war, the benefits derived from this source have been minimal. There is a need therefore to restore the productivity of these farms and improve the quality of the crops in order to expand the country's export base. While efforts are being made to undertake under brushing and cash crop expansion on a large scale through development projects, the following relatively new crops have been promoted to add to our export menu:

- Cashew has been officially accepted as an export crop with about 4000 acres planted to date and about 500 metric tonnes exported in 2005. The nuts were exported to Europe in March this year.

- Chinese ginger was introduced in 2003 and farmer involvement and export in 2005 stand at 308 metric tonnes involving 1240 farmers.

- Also in March this year, about 6,000 metric tonnes of brown sugar was exported by the Chinese Company, Complant to countries of the European Union.

Mr. Chairman, ladies and Gentlemen, before the advent of Big Time Master Farmers over the past three years, the subsistence farmers had been cultivating under acute financial and logistical constraints. In recognition of their past and current invaluable role in promoting agricultural development, my government has introduced a number of morale-boosting strategies in the past, namely:

- The utilization of locally produced rice in institutional feeding for the Police, Military, Prisons, Hospitals etc.

- The procurement of seed rice directly from the farmers themselves as opposed to utilizing the services of middlemen, who normally collect the lion's share of all profits.

- Procurement of seed rice within the seed rice producing districts where the seed is adaptable and easy to grow.

- Regulation of palm oil export to avoid hoarding and to ensure availability for local consumption.

- The opening of four Rural Banks to assist farmers in securing loans, and plans to open more banks in the immediate future to make this service available to more farmers.

Mr. Chairman, increased agricultural productivity often depends on the nature of support provided for the agricultural sector. That is why my Government is currently engaged in the rehabilitation of infrastructure to facilitate the production, processing, preservation, marketing and the distribution of agricultural products. Many other important activities that are engaging my Government for improving the life of farmers particularly in Kono include efforts to bring water and electricity to the Township of Koidu. Because of delays in the release of World Bank funding for resurfacing of the Masingbe-Koidu road, efforts are being made to make spot repairs while waiting for the full resurfacing of the road.

At the same time as the Government is engaged in all these efforts to improve the lot of the average farmer and inhabitants of Kono, much can be gained if the people of Kono could organise themselves into cooperatives to improve the quality of their produce and exercise control over the marketing and distribution of the commodities. The same cooperative spirit could greatly benefit those who prefer to engage in small-scale mining and could also improve the relations between mining companies and the indigenous people. I saw this on my recent visit to Botswana.

Coming back to the theme of Food Security, I understand efforts are being undertaken both at farm and Ministry level to disseminate information about the initiative but that the cost of publicity on private radios is hampering the process. While the SLBS TV and Radio offer free air-time for food security programmes, the majority of the farmers are located in remote rural areas covered only by community Radios which are self supporting and therefore run on commercial basis. As Government has now recruited a large number of Information Officers spread throughout the country however, their services could be used additionally to help disseminate information about the Food Security Programme.

I am delighted therefore to acknowledge the singular contribution to the food security drive by the Learning Solutions People (LSP) group in their food security album which clearly explains the meaning, rationale and the modus operandi of the food security drive. This has helped to dispel the misconception that people need not do anything for a living and yet expect to go to bed with a full stomach in 2007. I also appreciate the effort of other theatre groups in conveying food security messages through jingles, plays and other forms of entertainment.

This serious national concern has been misinterpreted in some quarters but stakeholders in the agriculture sector and the government at large will continue to explain the justification and the modalities of the drive to all and sundry.

Mr. Chairman, another significant incentive to the farming communities is the devolution of most agricultural activities to the local councils with the Central Government handling policy formulation, review, monitoring and evaluation. The devolution of decision-making at District or even Chiefdom level ensures that farmers now have a major say in the processes that affect their success in crop production.

Mr. Chairman, while the issue of credit availability continues to forestall efforts at enhancing large scale crop production with all the advantages of economies of scale, the introduction of the Agricultural Business Units ABUs under the MAFS/UNDP Agricultural Transformation Programme will eventually address this issue through savings in both cash and seed rice. Support to the local councils for the ABUs could facilitate input distribution and the conveyance of farm produce to the markets.

Mr. Chairman, the attainment of food security is not a one off process. Food Security should be maintained for future generations to come. In order to ensure the sustainability of the drive, the following innovations are being promoted:

(a) The off season production of rice in inland valley swamps, mangroves, riverine grasslands and other hydromorphic sites is being encouraged to ensure double or even triple rice cropping per year. If processing and value addition result in reduced post harvest losses, then the surplus production could be exported thereby saving hard currency through import substitution.

(b) Water harvesting through the construction of dams and storage tanks and the collection of water from buildings and run-offs could provide additional water for rice and vegetable production. The current practice of dry season vegetable production in the inland valley swamps ensures intensive crop cultivation aimed at high crop productivity.

Mr. Chairman, the IFAD/ADB Agricultural rehabilitation Project which entails the rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure and the production of germplasm and farmer support was launched in March this year. Both projects are covering 7 districts, namely: Kono, Kailahun, Kenema, Pujehun, Moyamba, Port Loko and Kambia Districts.

Recently in support of the private sector participation in agriculture, a grant of USD960, 000 has been approved for the planning phase of the World Bank Rural and Private Sector Development Project worth $28 million to be jointly implemented by the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, and Trade and Industry.

The ADB funded NERICA project now covers the Kenema, Bo, Kambia, Port Loko, Kono and Bombali districts. It is intended to multiply and take available seeds of NERICA rice to farmers, so that as many of them as possible could benefit from its project.

The IDB/Malaysian and Sierra Leone Government funded project ''Capacity Building for the development of the oil palm industry in Sierra Leone'' is steadily gaining momentum with the transplantation of 260,000 seedlings to begin soon.

Mr. Chairman, in a frantic effort to reduce the gravity of post harvest losses, the Special Programme for Food Security, (Farmer Field Schools) now concentrates on the provision of threshers, rice haulers, winnowers etc. in addition to the two way learning process that obtains in these schools, without walls. The FFS programme will continue to augment the traditional extension delivery system which does not seem to be working well.

In addition, the JICA-funded Agricultural Development Project in Kambia, which focuses on the re-introduction of best farming practices and the reduction of post harvest losses, started in July 2006 and will be operational very soon.

On the international front, my government has received applications for demonstration farms and joint farming programmes from private enterprises in Egypt, Iran, China, Vietnam, Malaysia etc. Plans are at hand to invite more farmers for direct investment in agricultural development. These interventions, when finalised, will entail the recruitment of local labour, land lease payments to communities and above all enhanced production of food for the population with the possibility of exporting extra produce to generate foreign exchange.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and gentlemen, with the current encouraging trend in food production from 2002 to date, I have every reason to believe that food security will be achieved by end of 2007 and sustained with the support of the current and upcoming interventions slated for the next 2 - 3 years.

Finally, I am particularly pleased that this celebration is being fully supported by the leadership and people of the Kono District, the National Association of farmers of Sierra Lone (NaFSL) and of cause by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

This field day will greatly help to break the myth and rectify the wrong notion that Kono District is engaged only in mining for the livelihood of its people. The items on display today and the fact that several notable sons and daughters of Kono are now big-time farmers go to show that this District is on the right path and on the road to food security.

Before I go on to declare this 2006 World Food Day open, let me take this opportunity to mention that this day also marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) for short". UNDP and the rest of the UN Family are here with us again to commemorate this year's events, starting from today 16th to 22nd October 2006. This period will be used to raise public awareness and mobilize various actors to show their renewed commitment to the eradication of poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The significance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is that it provides an opportunity to show solidarity with millions of men, women and children who continue to live in abject poverty. It is an occasion to publicly acknowledge the work of organizations and individuals who are making significant contributions to the fight against poverty.

The theme for this year is 'Working Together out of Poverty'. This further underscores the collective actions of all stakeholders including Government Donors, Local Leaders and their Communities, Call Society, Trade Unions etc. in promoting economic growth and human development, in order to eliminate the burden of grinding poverty amongst the marginalized peoples of the world.

In order to show global solidarity and raise national awareness, I want to join my compatriots in other parts of the world to lead the campaign against poverty in Sierra Leone. I therefore wish to demonstrate my commitment by asking all of you to join me and "Stand Up" against poverty and support the MDGs. Please "Stand Up and Raise your Hands against Poverty" as it is done by billions of peoples and their leaders all over the world.

Let me now commend you all for your support and attention and take this opportunity to declare the 2006 World Food Day open.

Thank you for your attention.

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