The Local Non Governmental Organisation, MUNAFA MPATIE, an implementing partner of the International NGO CHILD FUND, has, on Tuesday 16th April, 2019, provided two hundred bags of quality groundnut seedlings worth fifty million leones to over one hundred (100) women farmers drawn from three chiefdoms in Bombali district, northern Sierra Leone.
Programme Manager of Munafa Mpatie Federation, Musa Sanu Conteh, said in his statement that his organisation is a pro-poor women and children centered with focus on education and livelihood. He said supporting mothers with the required agricultural inputs enhances them to meet their livelihood needs and boost to both domestic and the community economy.
Mr. Conteh noted that provision of farm inputs for communities in their operational area is no novelty as the 100 women beneficiaries would join the many who had benefited from the project in the past.
He furthered that his organisation and its partner Child Fund held the strong view that when the mothers are economically empowered, children will have the leverage to grow, develop and discover their potentials.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS), the Bombali district director, David S. Sellu, lauded MUNAFA for supporting government in its drive to ensuring food self sufficiency and a catalyst for the country’s economic growth.
He acknowledged the untapped potential in the agricultural sector and the role women can play to turn things around.
Mr. Sellu stated that women, constituting over 60% of the country’s population, access to land and other productive resources can change the narrative in the agricultural sector. He urged MUNAFA not relent in its empowerment drive of women, which impact actually trickles down to the growth and well being of the child.
Country Director of Childfund SL, Mr Mustapha Kebbeh, expressed gratitude to Munafa for championing and supporting activities that ensure the wellbeing of the child is guaranteed.
He said their mission is to complement government’s efforts in promoting and protecting the rights of the child. He explained that supporting children without the effective involvement of their mothers or guardians is not sustainable.
Director Kebbeh went further to state that CHILD FUND, as child protection agency, has over the period provided support that does not only positively affect the work of the education ministry but also the Ministries of Agriculture and the Social Welfare.
Mr Kebbeh said the distribution of groundnut seedlings should not only be seen as an activity but rather a deliberate effort to improve the living condition of women especially those in agriculture as they are expected to use the support to take care of their children’s education and health.
He encouraged the team to constitute the beneficiaries into cooperatives in order for them to take complete ownership of the support which will, along the line, translate into real empowerment.
Isatu Sesay, who spoke on behalf of the women farmers, thanked the entire team for the support provided them. She assured them of using the input for the intended purpose. Madam Sesay registered an appeal for the consideration of more women farmers within and without their communities.