By Alpha Abu
Press Secretary in the Office of the President, Solomon Jamiru Esq says 10 Percent budgetary allocation for the Agricultural sector is not definitive at this point but said it is being pursued.
The Press Secretary was briefing the media at State House, Freetown on Friday 6th October 2023, following President Julius Maada Bio’s recent engagements at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
He spoke about the 2.63 percent presently allotted to agriculture in the budget which he said the Finance Minister Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura admitted in a round table discussion recently was not enough and that the government would advocate for a 10 percent allocation.
Jamiru stated that agriculture accounts for over 50 percent of the country’s GDP with rice importation accounting for over 200 million dollars annually in forex.
He said President Julius Maada Bio is very passionate about the country’s food security position, referencing the President’s assertion that Political Independence is essential but not sufficient where there is absence of food sovereignty and there’s need to celebrate food sovereignty as political sovereignty.
He also drew reference to President Bio’s view that the present food situation facing the country does not speak well about our dignity as a people given all the conditions that there are- such as vast arable land, sunlight and sufficient rain.
The Press Secretary pointed out that as the Feed Salone initiative gears up, the Land Laws would have to be reviewed to entertain all the key players including private investors.
He reiterated the importance of making use of existing government infrastructure for the Feed Salone agenda that would see the cooperation of line Ministries such as Works, Energy and Water Resources which he said are critical partners in the rolling out and running of the agricultural project.
He said the government is open to suggestions and constructive partnerships in the Feed Salone Agenda being championed by the president, crystalizing so that ‘’we can achieve Feed Salone for our people’’.
He appealed to the media to play a supporting role in ensuring concise and clear messages are disseminated about Feed Salone so that the citizenry and other actors would embrace the initiative wholeheartedly with sincerity of purpose.
He also mentioned the First Lady Madam Fatima Bio whom he said had fascinating sessions at UNGA in light of her recent appointment as UNAIDS Champion. He said the first lady supported by her husband succeeded in ensuring that a UN Resolution was passed to commemorate November 18 as World Day for the Prevention and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. He said Sierra Leone pioneered the motion and the countries of the world voted in favour of that motion.
Jamiru also highlighted the numerous high level meetings President Bio had with world leaders and other eminent persons which he said put Sierra Leone as a respectable partner in the global stage.
Copyright © 2023 (09/10/23)
