Minister ends five day feasibility tour
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Dr. Sam Sesay and team concluded a 5 day agricultural visit in all the four districts. He visited Koinadugu District to see agricultural projects implemented like the long unconstructed Kurbola road linking Kono. The Minister’s team was impressed with the agricultural projects implemented by IFAD.
The Minister and team wasted no time in visiting Kono, another provincial district and inspected agricultural project sites funded and implemented by IFAD.
They again went further in the Kailahun district to see farmer’s projects funded by IFAD and government. The Minister and team were highly received and praised by the local people for bringing farming aid easily to their doors steps.
Dr. Sam Sesay, who people said is a hardworking minister, visited the remote villages in the Kenema District. In his speech at the Chinese farm compound, he said people need to know the names and locations of their community banks.
He praised the Bank of Sierra Leone for their support to the provincial banks which he said doled over $280 million. He advised IFAD and ministry authorities to see the effort of the Apex and FSA institutions and later said community banks should remain as community banks, but the relationship of all FSA and community banks should always be kept intact.
Dr. Sam Sesay advised IFAD staff to make a second organ of Apex board of both Makeni and Kenema.
Coming to the concerns of the ministry staff, the minister advised all agricultural staff to create self employment in terms of farming for business purposes ahead of their age of retirement. He said most agricultural staffs are with the concept of do what I say and fail to farm to upkeep their financial bonuses.
He again asked the Kenema Agricultural branch to have a regular monthly meeting schedule which should be sent to headquarters for attendance of their meetings.
Minister Sesay later called on rural finance to make quarterly or annual reports on their activities for the ministry to see and know their performances which he promised to publish in a bulletin.
By Kamal M. Barrie, Kenema
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2013, https:. All rights reserved.
