August 18, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
The land allocated in Batbai, Ribbi chiefdom in Moyamba district for the purpose of Youth Farm has been highjacked by the people of Batbai following abandonment.
According to a stakeholder in the chiefdom, Kenneth Mahoi, the land in question had been ploughed and harrowed and was ready for the rice cultivation project when to their dismay, they saw some other people planting rice on the said land.
He said his equipment were made available out of goodwill, during the sloughing and harrowing of the land.
A son of Batbai, Alhassan Kargbo informed this medium that the sum of one million was handed over for the work to the one in charge of the project but the work did not materialize.
He said the people of Batbai have the right to utilize the land because they had already spent money they obtained from a loan. He said it is better for the land to be utilized instead of leaving it uncultivated.
Effort to reach the Youth Council of Ribbi proved fruitfulness but we will continue to monitor the issue.
The Youth Farm project was designed by government in order to alleviate unemployment among youths and boost the production of rice.
It was a projected that the Ministry of Youths Affairs would cultivate 8,000 hectares with 40 hectares in each chiefdom. The project aims at providing employment opportunities for 10,000 youths with 50 in each chiefdom.