parliamentary committee on agriculture and food security
By Emma Black
The parliamentary committee on agriculture and food security, chaired by Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay (SOS), conducted a joint inspection visit with agriculture Minister Musa Kpaka to evaluate the Torma Bum irrigation and infrastructure project, the visit focused on assessing the work of contractor PAVI FORT amid significant challenges.
Despite difficult terrain, funding delays, and adverse weather, the committee praised PAVI FORT for its commitment to this vital project, a cornerstone of President Julius Maada Bio’s Feed Salone initiative for food security, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, Hon. Sesay noted, we are here on a fact-finding mission to make recommendations that will strengthen this flagship program.
Minister Kpaka, marking his fourth visit, emphasized the project’s December 2025 completion goal and its integration into the Regional Rice Value Chain Project (RRVCP). He highlighted irrigation’s role in enabling year-round farming, citing parallel efforts in Gbondapie and Kambia.
Project coordinator Abdulai Bun Wai commended PAVI FORT’s resilience despite setbacks, regional Director Joel Lawson detailed the $10.9 million contract, secured through competitive bidding, and outlined challenges including design changes, swampy soil, and delayed approvals, he revealed that PAVI FORT, a Sierra Leonean company, had invested over $1 million beyond the original scope and urged funders to release $2 million to maintain progress.
Following a site visit to the irrigation canal and funnel under construction, the committee expressed satisfaction with the work and recommended swift payment approvals to expedite completion. A follow-up meeting with stakeholders is scheduled in Freetown to finalize discussions.
Minister Kpaka reinforced the call for collaboration, expressing optimism about the project’s progress. Local leaders, including the Paramount Chief, Town Chief, and Village Chiefs, joined media and civil society representatives in attending the meetings and site visits, highlighting the project’s importance to the community.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 7th, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
