By Jeremiah Kargbo
When the same quantum of rice imported into Sierra Leone over fifty 50 years ago is the same quantum of rice imported till date and increasing, causes a right thinking Sierra Leonean to ask the question of what has changed in agriculture?
The only Sierra Leonean pastor to embark on large-scale farming, Pastor Francis A. M. Mambu, stated that he does not see the need for government to be spending millions of dollars in importing rice, if only we are serious about doubling agricultural productivity, proving that it is not difficult to feed this nation as he keeps increasing rice yields each year, by raising farm productivity and boosting growth, when harvesting close to one thousand-hectare rice this year with the aid of newly acquired combined harvester, which was dedicated and launched Friday 8th October 2021.
The Faith Healing Agricultural Project farm which is one of Sierra Leone’s largest local farm project located in Yainkassa village in the Makarie chiefdom, Bombali district, about hundred kilometers northeast of Sierra Leone, which produces fresh farm eggs of over 100 cartoons weekly in its poultry and also where the organic, parboiled F.H.A.P rice is being packaged in 25kg and 50kg, has been struggling with its yearly rice yield when it manually had to harvest its parboiled rice, causing low productivity and delay in meeting the demands of the market.
Poised to fully take the pulpit to the farm by extending the project to all districts across the country for food sufficiency, the Man of God noted that this year in Bonthe district; two hundred and forty six (246) acres of rice is already been harvested and stored in the grain store, fifteen (15) acres of cassava and five (5) acres of corn; Tonkolili district is set to harvest eighteen (18) acres of rice; Moyamba district sixteen (16) acres of rice; Kailahun district two (2) acres of cocoa & cocoa yam; and groundnuts in Portloko. “This venture requires maximum support, which I need from all well meaning organisation and sundry,” Pa. Mambu noted
Pastor Francis A.M. Mambu, CEO of the Faith Healing Agricultural Project who doubles as general overseer of Faith Healing Bible Church, stated that the project was unsuccessful in meeting its targeted 1,200-hectares rice yield this year owing to the challenge with tractor. He added that over the years, the farm project which started in 2008, using only hand tools, a practice that entails poor productivity, has been supporting over four-hundred and fifty local women comprising six (6) farmer-groups from six villages including Royeama, Maronko, Royanka, Woreh-Yeama, Yainkassa and Gbom-Samba, “beyond seedlings and tools”.
Expressing his willingness to changing lives beyond preaching the Word of God, the ‘Preacher-farmer’ has not only been providing the various farmer-groups with ploughing help, and seed rice, but also with seed money for micro-finance savings, though he pays for their labour on the farm. Last year Pastor Mambu, launched a rice milling centre for the community and lights up four communities with thirty-five million (Le35million) worth solar lights and vows to construct a Junior Secondary School.
Pastor Mambu thanked the Chiefs and residents of the six (6) villages and farmer groups and encouraged them to see themselves as stewards of the Faith Healing Agricultural Development farm.
Representative of the chief of Yainkassa – Abdul F. Kabia, representative of the head of the women’s groups, Mary S. Kargbo and youth leader Santigie Koroma thanked the pastor for not only providing them jobs and light but making life better for them and their families.” They called on the central government, local and international non-governmental organizations, and well wishers to support the servant of God “to have his dream come true.”
