By: Saidu Jalloh, Reporter D.S
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has successfully completed a comprehensive 90-day training program for 174 young agripreneurs, focusing on agricultural mechanization services. As part of this initiative, MAFS has awarded nearly NLe 2 million in grants to emerging youth-led agribusinesses.
This program is part of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Sierra Leone Agribusiness Support project under the ENABLE Youth Program, aimed at bridging the critical mechanization skills gap in the country. Participants were equipped with essential skills, including tractor operations, harvester servicing, equipment maintenance, drone operation, and soil mapping.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, “For years now, we have gained little from our machines because we lacked the right people to operate, maintain, and repair them. Today, we are solving that problem.”
In addition to training, MAFS distributed grants to 30 youth-led agribusinesses, based on the quality of their submitted business plans. Top recipients received grants of up to NLe 120,000. This grant initiative is designed to stimulate new agricultural ventures and includes tailored coaching and mentorship to support recipients’ long-term success.
The overall initiative aligns with Pillars 1 and 6 of the Feed Salone strategy, which focuses on enhancing mechanization while empowering youth and women in agriculture. By fostering skilled agripreneurs and providing financial support, MAFS is taking significant steps toward building a self-sustaining agricultural sector in Sierra Leone.
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