20 October, 2008

Press Secretariat, State House

Agriculture now President Koroma’s No. 1 Priority

President Ernest Bai Koroma over the weekend re-arranged his government’s priorities, encapsulated in his ‘Agenda for Change,” by declaring the agricultural sector the new top priority.

Speaking at the northern Tonkolili headquarter town of Magburaka, the President pronounced, “We are challenging ourselves again today, because when I came to office last year, energy was my top priority followed by agriculture and infrastructure. I am using this occasion to re-arrange my priorities; and from today, agriculture is our number one priority.” The President said this was a great commitment, but it could be the only way to drive poverty from Sierra Leone. “In the next couple of months, I’ll be engaging the Ministry of Agriculture, the Paramount Chiefs, local government officials and farmers on a 24-hour basis. With the support of the international community and the co-operation of the farmers, we will succeed in restoring the dignity of our people and making Sierra Leone a proud nation once more.”

At the start of his speech last Saturday afternoon at the Magburaka Playing Field, the President urged participants to observe, rather than celebrate World Food Day or “Sierra Leone Food Day”, because about 930 million people in the world are going hungry on a daily basis, while 60% Sierra Leoneans still exist below the poverty line. “We should only observe it because of the seriousness these issues present to us as a government and as a country. I think this is a moment of reflection… We, as a government, believe this is the moment to have a hard look at the past, change direction, and shift emphasis.”

Saying both Poverty Reduction Day (17^th October) and World Food Day (18^th October) were being jointly commemorated, the President congratulated FAO on their 63^rd anniversary “for what they’ve done over the years in the fight against hunger and poverty. As a government, we are happy with FAO’s job and we hope they’ll continue. But today, it’s not only about FAO, it’s also about what we are doing to fight poverty.”

The President said, as a people, we have to take the challenge. “We can get help; but a time should come when we can say enough is enough. God has given us the land, the rain, the rivers and the people. We have to get the courage to move with determination. Any nation has to be able to feed itself to show it has plans to move forward. As we observe these days, we should redouble our efforts and commitment to move this country forward”.

President Koroma said his message to the donor community is simple and clear: that because of our circumstances, we need help, and this help should be re-aligned in accordance with the government’s priorities. And the help also has to be substantial. “Some help comes in two to three million dollars. And some people were happy to receive ten million dollars; but with what we need, with what we want to do, there’s a need to pour in billions of dollars.”

The President said agriculture and poverty are connected, and his government is ready to address the twin issues. He said the theme for this year, ‘Food Security Through Commercialization Of Agriculture’, underscores the fact that agriculture can only create the impact needed to move the country forward when it is commercialized. “If we don’t, we will be wasting our time. I am not here to waste people’s time.” He said there’s a need to improve on agricultural inputs, equipment, seedlings, post-harvest processing and marketing, and to introduce the large-scale use of fertilizer, combined harvesters, pest controllers and rice mills.

Appreciating the work and importance of the private sector, the President urged private individuals and companies to have greater involvement in agriculture, while revealing his government’s determination to review the land tenure system, which has been inhibiting efforts at greater participation by the private sector. “You can’t own a land, sit on it, and deprive the community from putting it into meaningful use. We are reviewing this land tenure system, and it will open up the agricultural sector.”

The President said we should not allow farmers to cry any more; that we should not allow the farmers of Bondapi, Boedu, Krubola and the Great Scarcies to be forced to sell their products to foreigners for lack of infrastructure.

Concluding, the President thanked the district councils for mobilizing the people from all over the country to grace the occasion. “This shows what decentralization means. Agriculture can only succeed when local governments and local authorities take the lead in moving us forward. And with private-sector involvement, I am sure Sierra Leone will not only feed itself but will become an exporting nation.”

The President also thanked FAO and all development partners for the support thus far. “This is a long journey. It will be difficult, but my message to our development partners is clear – if the money is coming, it should be in a serious manner and we should be in charge,” promising to take an uncompromising stance against anyone who tampers with donor funds. “Thank you all for coming. Let us dedicate this day to changing our circumstances. God bless Sierra Leone.”

Speaking at the ceremony, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative, Michael Schulenburg, said “any crisis is also an opportunity”, urging Sierra Leone to find a new place in the global community. “There’s nowhere more appropriate than in agriculture. Your country has the land, water resources and the people to become self-reliant.” He pledged to support government in making agriculture a priority.

Other speakers included Acting Minster of Agriculture Alie Mansaray (standing in for the substantive minister Dr. Sam Sesay, away to a conference in Rome), who revealed that a record 48,000 acres of land was cultivated this year, and that the Indian government will be sending 300 tractors for next season’s production; Minister of Presidential Affairs Alpha Kanu, who introduced the President and his entourage; and P.C. Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III, who delivered the welcome address. The occasion was chaired by Resident Minister North, Alie B. Kamara.

Present were a cross-section of the diplomatic and donor community, while local dignitaries included cabinet ministers, MPs, District Chairmen and Mayors. All districts in the country had a representation, and Tom Nyuma of the SLPP led the Kailahun farmers.

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