By Prince J Musa in Kenema
As part of encouraging Agricultural activities in the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Board (SLMPB) has on Friday 25th October 2019 distributed prices to six cocoa and coffee co-operative organizations in the Eastern region of Sierra Leone.
The Administrative Manager of SLPMB, Ibrahim Fofana awarded the prices to the six best cooperative cocoa farmers based on the quality of their produce in 2018 SLPMB trade fair in Kenema.
He said “This was to motivate local farmers to improve on quality production in their agricultural products that will match up to international standard not only for cocoa and coffee production”
The trade fair which has been dubbed in the past as ‘Cacao show’ is an annual even that is held in the region to showcase the produce of farmers. Farmers from different cooperatives in the Eastern region display their products for sale and assessment.
Some of the cooperatives who won awards include, Gao Cocoa Farmers’ Cooperative from Kailahun district who won the first position for quality produce. They received Le 7.5 million
Luawa Farmers Produce Buyers Cooperative from Kailahun district took second position and received Le 5 million
Lifeline Cooperative Group- from Kenema finished third and won Le 2.5 million.
Other cooperatives from Kono and Kailahun won other prices for their products.
The cooperative groups were also given farming tools. Fofana said each of the cooperatives were given transport refund and tools such as pruning saw, shovels, wheel barrows, plastic solar drier, rain boots, fermentation box, polythene bags, ,cutlass, tarpaulin and eighteen bags of rice.
On behalf of the cooperatives, the manager of Tewoh Farmers’ Cooperative in Kailahun district, Foday Lansana Sahr Juma expressed their delight for the support SLPMB is giving to farmers. He said this will certainly encourage quality production.
Jumah added, “If this continues more cooperatives will come on board and will make our rural farmers consider cocoa farming as the fastest way to get income”
SLPMB is working with partners on several other projects. Some of the partners include; GIZ, Welt Hunger Hilfe, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Agriculture Ministry and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
© 2019 Politico Online
