September 21, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
The 120 bushel rice seeds supposed to be allocated to the Ribbi Chiefdom Youths Farm through the Chiefdom Youths Farming project have not reached the youths.
According to investigations as only 80 bushels was handed over to the youth farm and the remaining 40 bushel costing LE 12 Million (LE 300,000 per bushel) is currently un accounted for.
The sum of LE 36 million was sent to the rice dealer, Consortium Limited through electronics voucher by the Ministry of Agriculture with the supervision of the youths but not all of the rice seeds were supplied.
Sources revealed that the rice dealer withdrew all the LE 36 million and insisted that the remaining LE 12 million should go for transportation expenses. However, up till now the issue has not been resolved between the youths and the dealer.
According to the Chiefdom Youths Leader and his deputy, Ibrahim Albert Turay and Alusine Koroma, respectively, it has been rumored that they siphoned the LE 36 million meant for the purchase of the rice seeds which they said is not true adding that politics have been used against them to disrupt the project.
Alusine Koroma named the Member of Parliament representing them, Hon Amadu Kanu as one stakeholder that has tried to smear their names claiming that the youths, being mainly supporters of the ruling SLPP, have tampered with funds meant for the youth farm.
This was put to the Hon. Amadu Kanu but declined commenting on the issue. The name that has also come up is that of Addra Sheriff,the Director of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture who is also a Service Provider/dealer.
He was said to have been paid for ploughing and harrowing the farmland but only did the ploughing whiles ignoring the harrowing exercise. The Deputy Leader referred to this as conflict of interest calling on him to refund some of the monies paid to him.
Mr. Sheriff could not respond to interview despite messages sent to him for his audience.
The situation on the ground with regards the farm has been complicated since the supply of the seeds and the ploughing of the land. Money was borrowed from the bank in Rotifunk for the purpose of purchasing fertilizer during the nursery stage and now there is no money to hire laborers for transplanting the rice to the 40 hectares provided by government for the project.
Agriculture has been the focus of the Bio led administration with emphasis on rice production as the staple food of Sierra Leoneans. This food security drive undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Food Security, is believed, will save the country millions of Dollars in subsidies on rice importation, annually. The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs has established youth farms in all the chiefdoms in Sierra Leone.