Agriculture is the baseline for the growth and development of the economy

When the late Dr. Siaka Probyn Stevens told Sierra Leoneans after his return from China, in the 70s, that their plane crashed and all the money he was bringing from China got scattered in the bushes of the country, few Sierra Leonean, understood the meaning of the parable.

There was no plane crash or any money being scattered all over the place. What the president wanted to instil in Sierra Leoneans was what one easily observes today as the greatest factor for wealth, but downplayed many Sierra Leoneans, especially the so-called elite and other well placed individuals.

This neglect rears its ugly head in other unholy and diabolic activities that also easily bring wealth: drug trafficking, 419ism and many such others.

In Kono, Kailahun and Kenema districts, the activities of the NGO, Welthunger Hilfe, have helped to transform the lives of many farmers through cocoa and coffee farming. The World Food Day, celebrated at Levuma Beach Garden, the farm of Mr. Jesse Olu John, President of the national Farmers Federation, was an event designed to not only bring Farmers together but to appeal to all and sundry that there was no labour lost in farming. It is only in this country where top civil servants and affluent business people do not see pleasure in farming, but they forget what they eat every day, whether at home, hotels or other ordinary restaurants is the handiwork of farmers.

In Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire and the Cameroun, the organic cultivation of plantains and bananas has become a national call because of the viability of the business as a FOREX earner and local food commodity that replaces rice as a staple in many home and for many people.

The news that the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay and the Chief Agriculture Officer, Mr. Francis A.R. Sankoh are presently helping in the massive production drive for plantains and bananas by a farmer organization is a welcome development and a positive step in the right direction, because in the past, many farmers complained of the non-challance attitude of those in positions of trust that could bring about a change to the agricultural endeavours of the farmers or farmers organization.

This development would go a long way in translating the President’s Agenda for prosperity, especially for the rural poor farmers.

By Jo-Nyangu

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