EU support smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone with donation to Ministry
The European Union (EU) Food Facility in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today donated office equipment worth US$9,500 (Le 38 million) to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security.
This donation is a continuation of Food Facility support for the government’s Smallholder Commercialization Scheme, which aims to stimulate smallholder farmers’ production and enhance their access to markets.
The equipment, including a photocopier and computers, will go to the Planning, Evaluation, Monitoring and Statistics Division and the Extension Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.
“I hope the equipment will enable both divisions to continue their good work, especially in providing support to farmers under the EU-funded Food Facility and in monitoring and reporting results,†said WFP Country Representative Christa Räder.
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay, said: “We are deeply appreciative of this donation. This will allow us to effectively oversee implementation of WFP-assisted programmes.â€
Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, the Representative of the European Union Delegation, Giampiero Muci, emphasized the EU’s continued partnership with WFP and the government of Sierra Leone.  “This donation is part of the ongoing collaborative process to support the Smallholder Commercialization Scheme,†Mr. Muci said.
The Food Facility is a Euro 1 billion fund set up to help farmers in 50 developing countries to increase their agricultural production over three years – from 2009 to 2011. So far, the EU has provided Euro 5.4 million to WFP Sierra Leone through the Food Facility.
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