By Sulaiman Jalloh
On the day marking World Food Day, President Julius Maada Bio has celebrated one year of his government’s main agenda ‘Feed Salone’ in Kailahun District, Eastern province of the country and promised more food sustainability for the citizenry.
This year’s World Food Day was celebrated under the theme “Right to food for a better life for a better future” aligned with president Bio’s focus to improving food sustainability in the African country.
In his welcome statement, Para mount chief Mohamed Sama Kailondo Banya iv of Luawa Chiefdom, Kailahun District while thanking the President and his government for the massive development in that part of the country and for initiating the Feed Salone said the people of his chiefdom and the district t large were happy to have hosted the event. “Mr. President we also want to register our sincere appreciation for appointing many people from the Kailahun District and they are doing extremely well” he noted while appealing for the construction of the girl school in that part of the country something he said will save the girls from abuse.
President Julius Maada Bio delivering his key note started by thanking the minister of Agriculture while appreciating the people Kailahun District for electing him as President of the country in June 2023, saying despite the hardship circulating around the World, his government prioritize improving the lives of ordinary citizens. “What we are doing is that no matter how difficult it is, we will ensure that we put food on the table” the head of state voiced. He emphasized that his government first term they focused on improving human capital development by investing in education including the passing of stringent Laws that prevent violence against women and girls, adding the closing relationship between his government and the international community is due to massive fight against corruption while promising infrastructural development in that part of the country.
According to the African leader, agricultural revolution by going to the farm, saying food is a necessity and that is why his government is investing more on agriculture. He noted that Kailahun District has land that is good for agriculture while encouraging the private sector to form part of the initiative.
He stated that all government ministers are involved into Feed Salone, noting the motive is to ensure before his second and final term come an end every citizen has food on the table. “As stand here, I am a farmer so no one should be ashamed of being a farmer” he alluded, remarking that they connecting food and culture something he said his government is concerned about and emphasizes the need to improve infrastructure especially given farmers the access like road connectivity. President Bio alluded that technology and internet connectivity plays a vital role to achieving the Feed Salone as it will help farmers to do research while launched the one-year feed Salone achievement.
Minister of Agriculture and food Security Dr. Hendry Musa Kpaka, thanked the president, saying the farmers of the country have answered his called, noting the exhibited produce on that day were just an example while appreciating specific farmers who are doing both cultivation and processing.
According to the minister, there are heroes who are championing the Feed Salone initiative in their own way and that the importation of rice has reduced. “I engaged some people from Kailahun and they told me that for long time now they have not been eating imported rice” he re-counted, adding the importation of eggs will reduced before the end of 2024. “We know that the rice we produce is of high quality” he underscored. He stayed that more money has being raised and the foundation has been laid for citizens to cultivate what they consume, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play.
Mr. Gbassay Gobeh, Resident minister of Kailahun District started by appreciating the president through the minister of Agriculture for given them the opportunity to host the country, saying they deserve it and that the people of Kailahun will not disappoint the feed Salone initiative.
Speaking on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Saeed Banson said about seven hundred million people across the World face hunger especially women and children, noting such problem is not immune in Sierra Leone. He said they collaborated with the ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to cultivate about nine hundred and nine (909) heaters of in land value for the year ended 2023, while reaffirming the right food for very individual in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Madam Yatta Sama, national president of the farmers’ association cherished the president for supporting farmers over the years while promising their readiness to supporting the feed Salone initiative. “Next year we will triple what we have shown here today” she promised.
