By Nasratu Kargbo
Representative of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Saeed A. Bancie has said one of the key achievements of the United Nations is the support rendered to 10,000 (ten thousand) farmers in diverse ways, in a bid to promote food sufficiency.
Speaking at a press conference to update the media on the 2022 UN annual report on the 5th May 2023, Bancie explained that the organisation has assisted farmers in different ways such as providing them with information to make informed- decisions on farming inputs, and technology amongst others. He said that the objective of the support is to enhance agricultural productivity.
According to the FAO representative, Outcome One of the report deals with Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security, and Climate Resilience, noting that it consists of six outputs, one of which focuses on farmers, especially women and youth. He said that over seven thousand farmers across six districts have access to information for informed decision-making in their agricultural practices.
He stated that one thousand inland valley farmers were supported to rehabilitate some of the inland valley swamps to increase rice production.
When asked why focus on five districts for the school feeding programme, the FAO representative explained that the UN conducts periodic studies to know places that are most affected by food insecurity, stating it was based on that results they chose those districts.
He explained that there are others that are in need, but they have focused on those that are acutely food insecure.
Responding to questions on how the efforts of the UN will reflect on the lives of Sierra Leoneans, Bancie explained that the results they’ve shared are their output level as an organization, but was quick to state that some of the expected results may not be seen immediately.
According to the UN annual report, through the school feeding programme, for more than two terms, they have fed two hundred and sixteen thousand school children, from one thousand and twenty schools in five districts of the country. Also, more than five thousand children in Pujehun and Kambia districts had access to diversified and nutritious food on a daily basis through the home-grown school feeding programme.
The report explained that the food served were nutritious meals based on a newly designed seasonal national school feeding menu, which according to the report is to ensure the provision of diverse and nutritious foods. It further explained that by the end of 2022, there was an improvement in dietary intake through policy development, evidence generation, and community mobilization supporting the adoption of optimal food and nutrition practices.
Outcome 3 further stated that in a bid to help adolescents grow well, formative research was done on adolescent health, and that nutrition and support system was concluded to support the development of an adolescent nutrition strategy.
Different actors such as mothers, healthcare professionals, and nutrition champions were engaged in order to promote optimal breastfeeding and complementary practices.
Responding to questions on how the efforts of the UN will reflect on the lives of Sierra Leoneans in order to ensure food sufficiency, UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi said they have done a lot stating that if one is to deduct the efforts they’ve made as an organization, one would see the huge gap they have covered.
He stated that one of the challenges the country has faced over the years is food import dependency, stating that Sierra Leone spends a huge sum of money annually for the importation of food especially rice.
“All we are trying to do is give the smallholder farmers the tool, information, and technology they need to improve their yield and increase their income. We are seeing significant progress”, Ahonsi said.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (05/05/23)
