The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay, appreciated the bank’s positive response to Sierra Leone’s development agenda particularly in the area of support to the agriculture sector. He highlighted the positive impact the IDB funded project for capacity building for palm oil production, processing and marketing could make on the lives of the project community and the country as a whole.

While assuring the delegation of Government’s commitment to ensure the success of the project, Dr. Sam Sesay also expressed Government’s strong desire to expand the project from its pilot phase to a national programme. “The country is in a hurry”, he said.

Palm oil

The Agriculture Minister also requested the bank to support a survey and feasibility study on the development of the oil palm industry in Sierra Leone together with a national oil palm policy and plan.

Speaking on the Diversified Food Production Project (DFPP) which is also funded by the IDB, Dr. Joseph Sesay explained that the project has concluded inaugural meetings and pre-programmed orientation and is now engaged in the training of its technical field staff.

The Minister affirmed that government pays premium to ensure that the Agriculture sector serves as an industrial trigger, through boosting diverse and increased domestic production.

Dr. Sam Sesay disclosed that the government is endeavoring to move the sector from subsistence to commercial production and therefore one major area that needs donor consideration for support is irrigation. He added that the country has a high potential in this area as there are many available rivers in the country to meet this vital need.

Briefing the Minister on the objective of their mission, IDB projects officer, Dr. Moussa Traore disclosed that his delegation will among others, follow-up on-going operations of the bank funded projects and also engage in the preparation of the second phase of the project for capacity building for oil palm production, processing and marketing.

Dr. Traore expressed delight over the enthusiasm and determination of the Agriculture Minister and his team of professionals, to promote agricultural Development in Sierra Leone.

He stated that the IDB is willing to continue its support to the on-going agricultural projects and will consider for possible funding any other genuine request from the Government of Sierra Leone.

Pilot project

Contributing to the discussion, the IDB country officer, Dr. Abdoul Radiaye Bah disclosed that the Islamic Development Bank has prepared a special programme for the development of Africa, adding that Sierra Leone has been selected as one of two countries identified for pilot projects.

Dr. Bah said that though Sierra Leone’s port folio is yet small in the IDB, it is the fastest growing in sub-Saharan African. He revealed that Sierra Leone can access more funding from the IDB by simply improving its programme management capacity.

The bank’s Mission has also visited and made an assessment of the Capacity Building for Oil Palm Production, Processing and Marketing Project at Mattru, Jong Chiefdom, in the Bonthe District. The mission inspected the 1,432.89 hectares of oil palm the project has successfully planted including the nursery site.

During a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Jong Chiefdom at Mattru, Bonthe District, Allie Badara Sheriff, the head of the IDB Mission Dr. Moussa Traore said that he was very impressed with the progress the project has made. The project intervention, he said, is intended to improve their living standard and the country as a whole. He therefore urged them to continue to give their full cooperation to the project.

He disclosed that the 2nd phase of the project will soon start, which will make available several facilities including an Oil Palm Milling Machine, Staff Quarters, School and a Hospital.

In response, Paramount Chief Allie Badara Sheriff expresses the grateful appreciation of his chiefdom for the benefit the project is providing for them. He assured the mission that the chiefdom will continue to do its best to ensure that the project achieves its aim and objectives.

The mission was accompanied by the Project’s Desk Officer at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Jimmy Lamboi and the project’s Care - taker Manager J.P. Amara.

Islamic Development Bank, is a multilateral development financing institution located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The bank established to foster the economic development and social progress of its member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries in accordance with the principles of Shari'ah (Islamic Law).

Keywords: sierra_leone business