The Crop Protection Unit under the Crops Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has distributed a number of items ranging from motorbikes, collapsing chairs, megaphones and umbrellas to crop officers across 15 districts of the country.
The objective of this distribution is to raise the much needed awareness on plant health, calling on farmers with affected farm products, then advising them accordingly on how to treat such whenever there is future reoccurrence.
Mr. Alie H.D Mansaray – Head of Crop Protection Unit, underscored the importance of plant health and enlightening that as a Unit, one of their activities is to revitalize the plant health clinic which is a national plant health advisory system that has been dormant over the years.
Mr. Mansaray explained that the items would be distributed to crop officers in the district areas of Kailahun, Kenema, Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, Kono, Bombali, Portloko, Kambia and the Western Area, amongst other agricultural districts – to ensure accountability in surveillance and pest management.
He enlightened that the plant health clinic is run on periodic markets or public spaces where farmers with affected farm products (with signs and symptoms of disease) are advised on solving such a problem for a viable plant health, and this is made possible with awareness carried out through the megaphones.
He disclosed that the items were made possible with funds from the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Finance – in the path to promoting the Feed Salone Agenda.
He encouraged other district crop officers who have not been fortunate to receive such items to continue to remain steadfast in their lines of duty with assurances that the Government of Sierra Leone through MAFS is dedicated to ensuring that such support reaches one and all – for all farmers across Sierra Leone to benefit on what is needed for a viable and sustainable plant health.
