SLARI Acting DG Overdue for Substantive Appointment
The current acting SLARI Director General, Dr. Matthew L.S. Gboku is working assiduously for the development of agriculture in Sierra Leone.
It is a fact that he has been working overseas for quite some time but since his return he has been very supportive of the President Bio administration and the SLPP party. He was even part of the delegation that went to Kenema and Bo recently. The President would have loved to see few people including Dr. Matthew L.S. Gboku but he was overstretched.
Political pundits say it is high time that Dr. Matthew L.S. Gboku be considered by President Bio for substantive appointment as DG of SLARI.
In order to help improve the livelihood of farmers in the tree crop, livestock and horticulture subsectors as well as export their products to boost the ailing economy, the SLARI Acting Director General Dr. Matthew L.S. Gboku has transformed SLARI from its former state of disrepair.
It is because of his constant vigilance and great attitude to work is the reason why most people who know him are urging President Bio and other stakeholders to consider making him the substantive SLARI Director General.
It is no secret that with his appointment as acting DG of SLARI, political observers opine that he should be substantive DG because of his innovative ideas brought to the institution, in addition to his expertise and wealth of experience in agricultural matters.
Through the intervention of SLARI acting Director General Dr. Matthew L.S. Gboku, the National Agricultural Research Institutions is set to update fertilizer recommendations for the various agro ecologies and crops. He is also looking at strengthening collaboration/linkages between extension, research and farmers on the use of fertilizers. He is also aiming at undertaking an assessment of the technical and economic performance of the centre; identifying the major constraints hindering the smooth operations of the enterprise; provide recommendations for resolving the constraints and providing recommendations for taking advantage of the existing market opportunities.
Food Crop Bio-Fortification for Reducing Rural Food Insecurity and Malnutrition in Sierra Leone which is a four years project is another area the acting DG is seriously embarked in order to enhance nutritional efficiency in Sierra Leone.
On cassava cultivation, the acting DG is engaged in collecting information on cassava varieties and release of pro-vitamin A genotypes. He is working to develop a profile for pro-vitamin-A (yellow flesh) genotypes and; understanding endues preferences for inclusion of Pro-vitamin-A cassava into the cassava market. The objective is to increase cassava genetic gain and productivity to enhance household food security, incomes and livelihood of farmers in Sierra Leone.
In the SLARI/Africa Rice: Evaluation of Breeding Lines at different rice growing ecologies in Sierra Leone—2017/ 2018/2019 completed: and 2020 to be Initiated; the objective is to improve rice production in order to contribute to the attainment of food security and achievement of economic development in Sierra Leone.
By Festus Justus
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