By Alusine Rehme Wilson – (AR-WILSON)
On Wednesday July 22, 2020 the Cooperazione Internazionale – (COOPI) engaged over 20 Journalists on a day’s workshop at the MAF Conference hall in Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone.
The engagement was centered on bridging the gap between the media, farmers and other agricultural partners as well as fostering smallholder Agriculture in the country and was facilitated by COOPI’s Project Officer, Alpha Kamara and colleagues.
In his opening statement, Alpha remarked that: “The Media is a strong factor that can easily influence any stakeholder to present the needed measures to be taken, sharing their success stories, publish knowledgeable materials at the same time can serve as a medium of extension services.
“Unfortunately the media seems not to be interested in agricultural coverage especially the print media apart from few radio programs which are usually powered by Agricultural development partners.” He facilitated presentations, discussions and group work on the topics treated.
Participants comprised reporters, presenters, producers among other Journalists from various media outlets such as Newspapers, radio, TV stations and Online platforms who were all introduced to lessons about the ProAct 2015 project COOPI is implementing, its overall objectives, working areas, major components (Cashew value chain development, LANN adaptation and rollout, Bee Keeping in Cashew Orchard, Cashew Based Agro Forestry and Cross cutting) via PowerPoint point presentations.
The situation of Nutrition and Food Security, Nutrition and Health, its social situation and contributing factors were also pertinent topics discussed during the workshop.
COOPI’s ProAct-2015 Bombali and Karene Districts Project Coordinator, Mrs. Mariam Kabba, while speaking to Journalist at the event commended the participants for their responsiveness in all sessions of the workshop.
She also urged Journalists to accelerate the level at which they report challenges and success stories of farmers and their work which she said will increase the rate at which agricultural reports are being aired and published in the media by way of managing our natural resources, identifying farmers challenges share opportunities, reduce the gap in the sectors to enhancing better productivity and commercialization of honey and cashew in all four districts (Kambia, Bombali, Port Loko and Karene) where COOPI with support from the European Union and Government of Sierra Leone is implementing the ProAct2015 Project.
MAF Bombali District Agricultural Officer, David Sallieu pledged his Ministry’s commitment to the development process as he underscored COOPI’s tremendous work which had and is still empowering women and changing lives through agriculture in Bombali district and beyond.
He further revealed that his office will soon resume the monthly meeting with all agricultural partners in the district and that he will recommend strongly for the inclusion of Journalists in subsequent activities as he hailed Journalists in Bombali for their support towards agriculture amidst major challenges they do encounter in the process of seeking for and reporting the News.
On behalf of the participants, Senesi Dumbuya and Adama Fornah, both Producers at Radio Mankneh and Hope Radio respectively expressed delight for taking part in what they described as a fruitful dialogue.
They further assured COOPI and partners that they will fulfil the much need expectations as Journalists with much optimism that they will do their best to deliver more through their work in order to meet the much desired goals of the newly established Media on Agricultural Evolution (MOAgE).
