SORGHUM FARMERS BREAK NEW GROUND!

 

*Sorghum Farmers Break New Ground*‼

*By Ranger*

The Sierra Leone Sorghum Farmers Association (SLSFA) with a membership that spans the length and breadth of the country can feel very proud of their achievements under their chairman, Denis Jusu since the association was formed in 2006.

With a ready market provided by the Sierra Leone Brewery which has increased its demand for sorghum as an ingredient for producing its beer and beverage in the country, Sorghum Farmers are now guaranteed that they can now expand their production with pre-financing provided by Brewery.

This development is in line with the country’s Local Content Policy, the 2016 Finance Act and the commercialization of agriculture by the Ministry of Agriculture in order to make farmers more productive and richer.

At a press conference on Thursday 12th January 2016 at the Saluma Hall, Congo Water in Wellington, SLSFA Chairman gave a comprehensive rundown of the progress made by the association in partnership with the Sierra Leone Brewery, its parent company Heineken International, C.R.E.A.T.E and the microfinance institution Finance Salone.

Mr. Jusu explained that the essence of the press conference was to get back to the press on what the association has achieved since 2015, its link with Finance Salone and resolving of outstanding matters affecting association members.

Speaking at the conference, the Managing Director of Finance Salone, Amadu John Serry stated that he was confident SLSFA will continue to grow from strength to strength.

He explained that their MFI supports business people with loans, and that in the case of SLSFA, it has since 2006 been supporting the association with finance to secure seeds and cultivation. He disclosed that in the last two years, its financial support to sorghum farmers has ranged between Le250 million to Le300 million.

However, in spite of repayment problems with some farmers, Mr. Serry assured SLSFA that it Finance Salone will continue to support the association in order to increase their production and productivity.  

On the role of the press in agricultural and financial development, *Amin Kef aka Ranger* in his brief presentation said that the press helps disseminate agricultural news at home and abroad and called on SLSFA to continue its partnership with the press.

In his comment, Mr. Jusu greatly commended the press for highlighting their struggle and the benefits it has brought the association in terms of recognition.

He praised President Koroma and the Government for improving the environment for the commercialization of agriculture.

Mr. Serry called on other MFIs to take a new approach towards agricultural financing, noting that agricultural is no longer what it used to be; that it is now seen as a business by its practitioners. He said other MFIs should now feel safe to loan money to farmers to improve the country’s production and productivity.‼‼