By: Saidu Jalloh
The Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) collaborated with the Welthhungerhilfe to hold a one-day conference on research findings by the Kenema Forestry and Tree Crops Research Centre (KFTRC), a constituent center of SLARI.
The conference brought together major players in the agricultural sectors, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Vice Chancellor and Principal of Eastern Technical University, farmers, and the private sector.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, the Officer in Charge of the KFTRC, Mr. Paul Musa Lahai, noted that the conference on research findings was geared towards providing a platform to cascade their research findings and other new technologies to farmers and other key players in the agricultural sector. He further acknowledged Welthhungerhilfe’s support in this drive.
The presentation covered but not limited to: Woody Aboveground Biomass and its Drivers in Mosaic Landscapes by Dr Edward Amara of KFTRC, genetic Variability Structure Assessment of Cocoa Genotype for Yield Performance at Pendembu Upland Soil by Mohamed Kallon of KFTRC, cashew Yield Assessment by Foday Turay of KFTRC and phenotypical Diversity of Wild Sierra Leonean Coffee (Coffee Stenophylla) Collected From Kenema and Moyamba Districts by OiC Paul Musa Lahai.
Representing Welthhungerhilfe, Mr. George Muigai spoke on his organization’s main objective: to achieve global food security through interventions in rural development and agriculture. He maintained that his organization has worked hard to support local organizations and communities in this drive.
SLARI’s Deputy Director General for Research and Innovation, Dr. Prince Norman, made a statement on behalf of the Director General of SLARI highlighting the mission of the KFTRC, which is to enhance the productivity of tree crops while promoting agricultural research. He maintained that the key focus of SLARI’s KFTRC is to improve the yield and resilience of tree crops such as cocoa, coffee, and cashews.
According to Dr. Norman, SLARI is intensively researching agroforestry systems that tend to integrate tree crops with food crops, as this approach enhances biodiversity and improves soil health and farmers’ income. Now that SLARI is on the verge of reviewing its strategic plan, Dr. Norman stated that ideas shared during the conference would be looked into to see which ones could be incorporated into the strategic plan.
Representing the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Mr Ambrose Bindi spoke on the importance of research in agriculture. He maintained that it would be difficult to attain food security if research was not given the necessary support. He thanked the various players for their support of SLARI and assured all of the ministry’s support for agricultural research in the country.
SLARI’s Deputy Director General for Commercialization, Dr. Isata Kamanda, emphasized that research findings must be simplified and cascaded to farmers. She further stressed the importance of the tree crops sector in the FEED SALONE program, stating that the ministry’s district agriculture offices should teach such simplified research findings through agricultural extension.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Eastern University, Professor M. T. Lahai, stressed the need for collaboration with organizations to boost research. He maintained that SLARI could be a focal point for organizations seeking research information.
The research findings on these value chains are essential in boosting yields, thereby increasing the income and livelihood of farmers in the country.
