AYV News January 10, 2025
Quality local seed, healthy life is the slogan for a project titled: Food and Nutrition Security through Equitable and Climate Smart Food Systems; and it is locally coined as “Yoti Yoti”.
This is five year project is funded by Irish Aid and partners including Action for Advocacy and Development Sierra Leone, Concern World Wide, MIRO and others formed part of the consortium implementing this project in Port Loko and Tonkolili districts.
As part of the project, AAD-SL and partners organized a seed fair – a platform for local farmers to showcase and exchange local seeds among themselves; and such exhibition was done in Mile 91 and Port Loko town respectively.
Programs Manager at AAD – SL, Lansana Mansaray said, the project is one that promotes nutrition through climate smart agriculture and quality local seeds. Therefore, the seed faire in the two operational communities is exchange ideas on issues around smart farming through the application of organic manure, preventing slash and burn, planting of trees and preservation of local seeds by farmers.
Emphasizing the need for organic fertilizer, Lansana explained that, it is not only cheap and affordable but it helps to improve soil fertility thereby contributing to environment protection through sustaining soil microbes and other inorganic nutrients. He went on to say that, AAD – SL has rolled out series of trainings on the production of organic fertilizers for farmers in Port Loko and Tonkolili. The aim according to the programs manager, it is an appropriate technology that can boosts production and productivity.
On the area of inorganic fertilizer application, Mr. Mansaray said, besides being expensive it has negative effects on the soil as well as biotic factors that help to improve fertility of the soil. Due to these environmental concerns, they are encouraging farmers to go organic as this promotes healthy living.
Technical support through trainings in smart farming and supply of locals are the benefits being provided by this Irish Aid funded project, he added.
Concern Worldwide is the lead partner in this consortium and its primary responsibilities include supervising and monitoring the implementation of the project in the two operational communities. According to Habib Turay – District Delivery Manager, Port Loko said, the project ends in 2027 and the primary focus is to enhance food and nutrition security in the two districts. He confirmed that, 21,000 farmers are directly benefitting from this five years project.
Tonkolili District Council appreciates the efforts of both funding agency and implementing partners for their foresight to support farmers in trainings and supply them with seeds and tools. Development Planning Officer of the council – Abdul Vandi Kondovor said, the project is in line with the national agenda on food security. Therefore, Tonkolili istrict Council wholeheartedly support the implementation of the Food and Nutrition Security through Equitable and Climate Smart Food Systems project.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Port Loko mentioned the complementary role of NGOs to support government development agenda. Idrissa Kamara lays emphasis on seed preservation by farmers – which according to him, they are the lifeblood of farming. He also encourage farmers to diversify in agriculture by not only growing crops but also rearing of domestic animals.
Several other partners made valuable contributions relating climate smart farming, seed preservation and adherence to best agricultural practices.
Farmers in the two communities applaud AAD – SL and partners especially funding agency – Irish Aid for introducing them into farming techniques that have improve their production and productivity. They assured partners that, the objectives of the project which among them is increasing food and nutrition in the operational communities will be achieved and sustained.
