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In an audacious attempt to revolutionize Sierra Leone's agricultural industry, the Project Manager of Sierra Leone Agribusiness and Value Chain Support (SLARiS) project, Mr. Tamba Jumu, on the 3rd day of Agro-dealers strategy and validation workshop held at Family Kingdom, Freetown, reaffirmed the government's dedication to working with agro-dealers as vital contributors to the country's economic development.

The project intends to empower agro-dealers, who serve as crucial middlemen between farmers, suppliers, and markets, by offering all-encompassing support in order to improve farming communities' sustainability, accessibility, and productivity.

The project, which has over the years supported seed entities with financial incentives and input supports through the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), has helped in the availability and affordability of certified seeds in-country, construction of storage facilities, training and capacity building, regulatory and market support.

The Project Manager emphasized the Agro-dealers are the backbone of agricultural supply chains in Sierra Leone, ensuring farmers have timely access to inputs, knowledge, and markets. By empowering them, the project and government aim to reduce input smuggling and counterfeit products, boost smallholder farmer productivity and income and ?strengthen food security and climate-resilient farming practices.

Mr. Jumu, therefore, asked for a collaborative framework, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), joint initiatives among agribusinesses and Farmer-Agro-dealer Networks.

He suggested for a digital platform to connect farmers directly with certified agro-dealers and transparent reporting systems to track impact and ensure accountability.

The Project Manager asked all Agro-dealers to register with national agricultural agencies to access benefits, participate in upcoming workshops and funding windows and collaborate with local farmers to co-design solutions.

He maintained that this approach addresses the pragmatic needs of Agrodealers while striking a balance between the substance of policies and inspirational messaging, establishing the government as a trustworthy partner. Modify the details to conform to local regulations and cultural norms.
Mr. Jumu said “together, we can build a sustainable and prosperous future for agriculture.”
Credit: Membui Emmanuel