World Bank has approved a US$30 million grant for Sierra Leone to support agricultural productivity and access to markets for small holder farmer agribusinesses.
The US$30 million fund is from the International Development Association to the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP).
Much of it will be used to invest in critical infrastructure that connects communities with high agricultural yields with markets. A statement released by World Bank on Tuesday states that it will “enable the project to invest in roads and bridges to improve connectivity thereby providing access to more remote areas of high agricultural production. Specifically, it will help build critical bridges across key river crossing points currently served by manual cable ferries. These manual ferries are mostly out of service due to increasing risks of accidents particularly during the rainy season when water levels are high.”
World Bank Country Director, Martin Gayle says the fund is part of ways to contribute to the country’s drive to diversify its economy by boosting productivity.
Gayle was quoted by the World Bank statement as saying: "The World Bank is focusing its interventions toward helping the agricultural sector recover quickly from the effects of COVID-19 and contribute toward higher medium- to long-term agricultural growth required to reduce poverty among smallholder farmers and promote inclusive growth”, adding: “This project is aligned with the economic diversification and growth agenda of the Government.”
Agricultural productivity in Sierra Leone has been hindered by poor road network across the country. Sierra Leone has an ambitious plan to attain food security, a vision that has seen the government involve the military in food production in the country.
So far, the SCADeP project has supported the rehabilitation and maintenance of 166 km of feeder roads and the construction of 192 culverts and 6 bridges, thereby providing year-round access to farms, markets, schools and health centres for 77 communities in nine districts across the country.
Average travel time on these roads has seen a significant reduction from 20min/km to about 2min/km, according to the Bank. Another key accomplishment is a study to assess the agribusiness/out-grower landscape in Sierra Leone.
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