𝐁𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐁. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐲.
The West Africa Women`s Association (WAWA) Sierra Leone has, on loan, supported women farmer groups with one hundred bags of two hundred bushels of rice seedlings for cultivation activities.
This is in fulfillment of WAWA President, Madam Mame Bintou Ndao`s promise and agreement made to partners in answer to the major call of lack of seedlings for women farmers, and also the passion for active agricultural activities for women and girls` empowerment in Sierra Leone.
The distribution of rice seedlings to the different women farm groups was over the weekend done at various districts and regions across the country by WAWA team and partners.
At Rogbere, Port Loko District of Northern Province of Sierra Leone, five bags of ten (10) bushels of seed rice were handed over to the Rokel Multi-Purpose Agriculture and Trade Group which were received by Musa Sesay on behalf of the group leader, Ya. Alimamy Haja Sesay.
Also at Masiaka, the Ethnic Youth Organisation received seven bags of fourteen (14) bushels of rice seedlings.
At 4 Mile, Mr. Abu Bakarr Sesay, on behalf of the Preach Peace Organisation, received fifteen (15) bags of thirty (30) bushels of rice seeds, while the Headman of Gbokowaylay Village in the North West Region, Ibrahim Fornah received seventeen bags of thirty-two (32) bushels of seeds rice on behalf of his community.
The Headman of Rogboka Village, Saidu M. Kamara, and the community Chairlady for WAWA, Aminata Kabia received thirty bags of sixty (60) bushels of rice seedlings.
On behalf of Livelihood Development Organisation, Abdulai Bangura received 4 bags of (8) bushels of seed rice.
Kissy Bendu received 30 bags, Aford, 5 bags, Dignity Now 7 bags, Vision for the Blind, 6 bags and Siriwama 6 bags; all from Kenema and Kailahun District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone.
The seedlings were presented on behalf of WAWA President, Mame Bintou Ndao, by the Consultant Project Director, Innocent Thomson, and WAWA Human Resource Director, Emmanuel Fomba.
In their statements, both Directors talked about WAWA`s desire to promote and add value to improve Sierra Leone Agriculture to International level; and create empowerment for women, girls and the vulnerable with skills work.
According to Innocent Thomson, this is the first phase of the project that is to be implemented to cultivate and to get more seeds, to improve on large scale farming and improve the standard of living in the country.
The project, Innocent Thomson said, will help to secure seed bank for food sufficiency, promote school feeding for pupils, create ways for export and commit the women into active and sustainable farming.
The beneficiaries thanked WAWA for coming to their aid, and for uniting their communities through Agriculture and faming activities.
They confessed of WAWA being the organisation to provide them with seedlings which has been a major challenge for farm cultivation.
The beneficiaries vowed to make good use of the support, and committed to rice farming. They encouraged WAWA to continue the support, and appealed to provide them with more farming tools.
WAWA is an International Non- Governmental Organisation (INGO) working with all the sixteen Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) with the vision to establishing and maintaining channels and platforms on interactions that empower women to contribute to sustainable development across all ECOWAS Members States.
