The engagement at Njala Venue saw various stakeholders in the agricultural sector, agro-dealers, and farmers, in high spirit to validate the legally binding document, which makes provision for swift arrangements between agro-dealers farmers in the country.

The document entails procedures, standards, and ways farming and seed distribution and cultivation are done across the country.

Project Manager, SLARIS Project, Tamba Jumu said, the  11.9 billion dollars SLARIS Project, which  is sponsored by the African Development Bank and the government of Sierra Leone was to translate government vision to action,

He said that as the first planting season approaches, one of the major challenge was not only the availability of seeds for farmers across the country but also it certification for use by appropriate authorities concerned.

But recently,  they received over 40 metric tons of seeds after the training with local farmers and SLARIS, of which SLARIS  was able to provide  over 800 metric tons of seeds out of what they received from farmers.

Asst. Director of crops, Dennis Philip Yaw Yankson said, the Ministry of Agriculture is happy for the validation of a statutory document for agro dealers and farmers across the country.

He said that because there will be big private sector players who will be manning such affairs; ministry commends SLARIS for the option for legal documentation is off essence.

He appealed to participants to make their good input because the outcome wills hivers farming activities across the country.

He pledged the Ministries’ commitment to support the outcome of the document.

He said the ministry is trying to formulate agricultural policies and to advise the government on agricultural ventures.

He said that for contract farming, there should be a guarding document that will be of help in their entire process, which is why the document is eminent.

Although several trainings have been conducted by SLARIS and development partners with local farmers, it has led to the development of seeds certification.

But looking at contract bases, there must be a legally binding document as a guarding principle towards the farming discipline.

President national federation of Farmers Sierra Leone Yatta Samai commended the laudable venture of SLARIS and the Ministry of Agriculture and partners; she said authorities should recognize the value chain, which will make work easy not only for SLARIS but the country in general.

She calls for female recognition in various agricultural projects, adding that they are not only strong pillars but are the people who can have direct access not only to local farmers but also to the site as well.

She further calls for more empowerment for further continuation. She said SLARIS should have left  an exist-strategy so that even if the project ends,  farmers will be able to continue.”

She applaud the step for the document, which she said will spell out their roles and responsibilities.

She said farmers should not be left alone as small holders but should have what it takes to become bigger farmers.

Lead consultant, for the document Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai during the engagement, he hovers on the aim of the document, which is contract farming, a legal framework, and a mechanism for Sierra Leone.

He said the reason for contract farming was to avoid market hazards.

He said that Sierra Leonean should afford to grow what we eat, but for now, they are highly dependent on imported goods, but the contract document will proffer solutions to those falls.

The document, after validation, will be taken to Parliament for ratification before it becomes a law in the country.