By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter D.S
On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, led by Hon. Sallieu Osman Sesay, conducted a joint inspection of the Torma Bum irrigation and infrastructural project alongside Agriculture Minister Musa Kpaka. The visit aimed to evaluate the progress of this flagship initiative of President Julius Maada Bio, which is essential for achieving food security in Sierra Leone.
During an initial meeting at Torma Bum, Hon. Sesay commended contractor PAVI FORT for their dedication despite facing significant obstacles. “Our visit is a fact-finding mission to ascertain the current status of the project and to make recommendations that will enhance it,” he stated. The committee emphasized the project’s critical role in Sierra Leone’s broader goal of self-sufficiency in food production.
Minister Kpaka, on his fourth visit to the site, reaffirmed the importance of completing the project by December 2025. He highlighted that the irrigation and rice mill components are part of the Regional Rice and Value Chain Project (RRVCP). “Torma Bum is crucial, but we must also consider other locations like Gbondapie and Kambia for our food security goals,” he noted.
Project Coordinator Abdulai Bun Wai highlighted PAVI FORT’s commitment amid delays due to funding issues and challenging weather conditions. He praised the contractor’s performance in overcoming these difficulties to facilitate construction.
Regional Director for PAVI FORT, Joel Lawson, informed the committee of the company’s extensive portfolio across Africa. He noted that PAVI FORT was the lowest and most responsive bidder in a competitive international bidding process for the $10.9 million Torma Bum project. Lawson acknowledged challenges, including design variations and difficult terrain that have impacted progress, revealing that PAVI FORT had already spent over $1 million on project changes beyond the original design.
“Without a $2 million payment from funders for the work completed thus far, we may be forced to cease operations in Torma Bum,” Lawson cautioned.
Following site inspections, the Committee expressed satisfaction with the progress and recommended expediting funding to enhance project momentum. The meeting was adjourned to a later date in Freetown to facilitate further discussions involving all stakeholders. Minister Kpaka concluded by reiterating the need for collaborative efforts among all parties to ensure the project’s successful completion. Local leaders, including Paramount, Town, and Village Chiefs, as well as representatives from media and civil society, were present during the sessions, underscoring the community’s engagement and support for the initiative.
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