By Jonathan Hindolo KURABU, D CATALYST
Over 40 women drawn from among 40 project communities in Yawei, Peje Bongre, Peje West and Njaluahun Chiefdoms in Kailahun District have been trained by the Movement Towards Peace and Development Agency-Sierra Leone (MoPADA-SL).
The three days training tagged, “Women Led Community Extension Volunteers Training on Proper Cultivation and Management of Nutrition Sensitive Crops’’ which took place in Bonumbu Town, Peje West Chiefdom, commenced on July18th and ended on July 20th 2022.
Objective of the training, according to the Programme Manager of Livelihoods and Food Security, MoPADA -SL, Bob Amos Patricks was to build the capacity of women farmers in proper cultivation and management of nutrition sensitive crops to enhance proper food intake and dietary diversity among local food recipes.
Lead Facilitator, who also doubles as the Block Extension Supervisor, Ministry of Agriculture, Abu Mohamed Momoh, stressed the importance of the training putting into perspective the high rate of malnutrition in Kailahun District and also stressed the need for women to eat what they grow unlike selling them whilst their children remain malnourished.
The training, among others, dealt in detail crop diversification, proper dietary intake, leadership, financial prudence, mediation among conflicting parties, empowerment, transparency and accountability et al.
One of the beneficiaries, Gbessay Abibu thanked MoPADA-SL for the eye opener and empowerment skills acquired. She thanked the Embassy of Ireland in Sierra Leone for the succour and promised on behalf of colleague beneficiaries to live up to expectations and to use the project items for their intended purposes.
The three days training on proper cultivation and management of nutrition sensitive crops is a progeny of the 12 (Twelve) months Promoting Livelihood Agriculture, Nutrition and Natural Resources Management (PLANN PROJECT) for 4 (four) Chiefdoms in Kailahun District targeting 1,200 beneficiaries.
The PLANN Project seeks to achieve diversified food production, yielding improved nutritional status and livelihood for targeted communities, improved knowledge on nutrition, mother & childcare as well as hygiene and basic sanitation practices, breakdown of gender-specific barriers among plethora of others.
The Movement Towards Peace and Development Agency-Sierra Leone (MoPADA-SL) is a Non-Governmental Organization in Sierra Leone that is geared towards poverty alleviation, rural development, gender mainstreaming, women’s empowerment to name but a few.
Accordingly, the 2020 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis Report, ranks Kailahun district as one of the most food insecure districts in Sierra Leone.
