By Mary Kabay
Members of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA), Everybody Must Farm (EMF), and the National Coalition of Small and Medium Enterprises on the 16th February 2022 engaged representative of the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture head office in Freetown.
In attendance were the CEO of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, James Koroma, the Founder and President Everybody Must Farm (EMF) Prof. Amb Sfano Njawa Sesay, and the Consultant of Value Chain Development from the International Labour Organization, Jonathan Bird and representatives from the National Coalition of Small and Medium Enterprises-SL (NaCoSME-SL).
James Koroma, the CEO of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture who chaired the meeting the meeting intimated that Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA) is a voluntary association of business people, who are nationals of other countries and running various businesses in the country. He maintained that the Chamber does not interfere in the running of the businesses of its members except when assistance is sought by individual members.
James furthered that the Chamber’s activities are designed in such a way that they promote requirements for a competitive market economy.
The Chamber of Commerce Head went further to inform that their gathering together is geared towards the role Everybody Must Farm (EMF) must play in the agribusiness sector and the role of the National Coalition of Small and Medium Enterprises in the country.
On his part, the consultant from ILO pointed out that their aim is to ensure that the food value chain flows smoothly and the agricultural project they are about to invest in thrives.
Jonathan Bird stated that agriculture is their focus and the target group are women and youth for whom particularly they want to create employment and avail them opportunities to grow and create other jobs. He noted they conducted a research before concluding on the kinds of crops they will want to focus on before engaging the people, Government and businesses. He continued that based on the result they derived they shall be engaging in the cultivation of four main crops which are cassava, cocoa, palm kernel etc.
The International Labour Organization is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards
Everybody Must Farm (EMF) is a non-profit making, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) registered and established in Sierra Leone. Their aim is to promote massive farming practices and the knowledge to accept agriculture as a profit-making and dignified business in communities. Popular artiste, Prof. Amb Sfano Njawa Sesay, aka ‘General Sfano’ is the founder and president. He implored Sierra Leoneans to embrace the need to invest in agriculture if the country is to attain food security, food sufficiency, end hunger and malnutrition
He further explained how he is working with various stakeholders in different districts by educating and sensitizing the people to be part of agricultural chain. In his presentation he disclosed five communities that were engaged through radio programmes and Television talk on the importance of agriculture.
Prof. Amb Sfano Njawa Sesay revealed that he also uses music and drama to tell and show the significance of farming and why young people must engage on it. He later explained some of the constraints that farmers go through naming competition pressure, less interest in food diversification, maintenance of machinery and poor storage facility. Climaxing his statement he showed pictorial evidences of districts that has been supporting.
The Secretary General of the National Coalition of Small and Medium Enterprises-SL (NaCoSME-SL), David S Kabba who doubles as the CEO of MELLO FOODS, in his contribution explained the role of their organisation disclosing how it is covering 16 districts.
He said the coalition is covering agro business and other businesses by connecting and creating a chain with small and medium-size businesses. He mentioned the mentoring, entrepreneurship and business management programs they have been conducting across the districts.
Other members present made salient contributions during the meeting which was climaxed by a question and answer session.
