By Ibrahim K Bangura

The recent visit of the President of Everybody Must Farm, Prof. Sfano Njawa Sesay  in Bumpeh Chiefdom, Bo district, Southern Region of the Republic of Sierra Leone has emphasized hope for sustainable development among the local farmers in that community that have been seeking for a modern method in their agriculture and agribusiness investments.

Further research unveils that the massive job opportunities in the country especially on the agriculture sector was buried by political disputes and that has caused our able youth to become blind about the benefits of Agriculture and Agribusinesses and the loud cry of hunger, poverty and joblessness.

These frustrated youths have busied themselves on the use of dangerous drugs, increasing crime rates while poverty drags the women into unwilling sex traders risking their lives on the intake of STIs, STDs and HIV/AIDS, our records state.

Further reference to our files of development report by this press shows that the International Labour Organization of the United Nations has made intelligent and effective approach in Sierra Leone that included other organization involving the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the Everybody Must Farm (EMF) Organization in promoting massive job opportunities in the country.

Like the ILO with the mandate to promote job opportunities and the EMF promoting and emphasizing for job opportunities in the agriculture sector and the ILO-EMF partnership can definitely succeed in any mission undertaken.

The Zimbabwean born, Tonderai Manoto led ILO team were in Bo, Kenema, Bombali and Portloko as massive job opportunities in the Agriculture Sector were exposed, adding that the priority need has arisen for investment in the growing, modern method of storaging, processing, packaging and marketing of vegetables, cocoa, cassava and palm oil and that has given the task to members of the Everybody Must Farm (EMF) organization to work closely with farmers in both the formal and informal sector to make good use of the massive job and investment opportunities in the country.

During his meeting in Bumpeh Chiefdom, Bo district, on the 14th April, 2023, the President of Everybody Must Farm (EMF) Prof. Sfano Njawa Sesay, disclosed to the Chiefs that the recent intervention of the ILO was crucial to the transformation exercises and that massive job opportunities are being exposed and the need has risen for massive campaign that will encourage our people to return home, respect their heritage and live happily in the agriculture rich zones of the country.

President Njawa furthered that the Chiefs have significant roles in the transformation exercises that is by promoting the exposed job opportunities and pleaded with them to support the course of the ILO, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security and the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA) for the good of all.

In his response, Chief Vandy Jonjo assures the EMF President of their grand support and that the intervention of the ILO, SLCCIA and the EMF promoting job opportunities in the agriculture and agribusiness sector has been their wish to bring their sons and daughters back home.