Agriculture and Food Security

SAFS is advancing food security and reducing poverty in Sierra Leone by providing farmers with the resources they need to produce and market their yields. Our organization offers training in modern farming techniques, such as crop rotation, soil conservation, and integrated pest management.

What is Food Security? Based on the 1996 World Food Summit, food security is defined when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

70% of households in Sierra Leone are engaged in agricultural activities including crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry. But face challenges/constraints with lack of modern agricultural tools and equipment, post-harvest facilities, and adequate funds for sustainable agriculture and food security.

SAFS began its activities and support in marginalized and deprived rural communities in three Districts in Sierra Leone i.e., Moyamba, Pujehun in the South, and Kenema in the East of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

SAFS has worked with 150 Agricultural Farmer groups, including 30 members in each group, that operate up to 10 acres in different cropping areas i.e. Inland Valley Swamp, rice farming, bole land farmers, assorted vegetable, and root crops cultivation. Currently SAFS is serving 4,500 farmers in these communities.

SAFS is working with its smallholder farming groups to end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable farming group centered strategies. SAFS promotes smallholder group farmer empowerment through its agricultural programs and projects.

IVS RICE FARM IN BAMBAWO 2023

SAFS is partnering with smallholder farming groups to build the rural communities' farming sustainability in Sierra Leone, along with environmental conservation, considering the climate change issues. Smallholder farming groups are in general poorer yet are the engine of the rural economy.

“Investing in these smallholder farmers—many of whom are women—and the food systems that nourish them is more important than ever. In order to feed a population expected to grow to 9 billion people by 2050, the world will have to double its current food production. Given scarcity of natural resources and other challenges, the world will need to be more efficient in how it meets this demand. To ensure that people have sufficient food, aligning short-term assistance with a long-term development strategy can help countries feed their own people”, as documented on USAID’s website concerning Food security.

Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security (SAFS) supports the welfare of all our Farmers, including women groups. Sustainable Agriculture for Food Security (SAFS) has different women groups in the district of Moyamba, Kenema, Pujehun and Bo, who are working on different Agricultural activities, such as Rice cultivation, Cassava, Groundnut and other vegetables.

Bambawo IVS RICE PROJECT 2023

Over the years, SAFS has been supporting our smallholder farming groups namely with financial aid, seeds, local made farming tools i. e cutlasses, hoes, axes, watering cans, harvesting knives, rattans baskets, rakes.

However, the support provided does not commensurate with the average yields of farmers because of the following challenges.

• The entire activities are being done manually.

• Lack of modern agricultural tools and equipment and training.

• Inadequate funding.

• Lack of post-harvest facilities.

Sustainable Agriculture is Food Security

For sustainable and successful operations of these groups, support is required in the areas of Agriculture, including but not limited to:

• Farming vehicles

• Tractors

• Combined forage harvesters

• AVT, RTV and UTV

• Fertilizer spreaders

• Seeders

• Bulers

• Wagons or Trailers

• Kodali hoes (large)

• Shovels

• Rakes

• Nap sapk sprayers.

• Wheelbarrows

• KVA generator for electricity power generation

It is believed that with the provided equipment and training, farmers’ activities will be transformed into sustainable farming and SAFS goals/objectives in its service delivery will be achieved.

SAFS continues its efforts to increase food security and reduce poverty in Sierra Leone by providing farmers with the resources they need to improve their yields.

In addition, our organization offers training in modern farming techniques, such as crop rotation, soil conservation, and integrated pest management. SAFS also includes training and capacity building for farmers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, namely in business management in farming and contract farming.

Yoyema seed bank

Finding a market. Another challenge facing farmers in Sierra Leone is the need for market access. Many farmers need help finding buyers for their produce, resulting in low prices and a limited market. SAFS is already addressing this challenge by connecting farmers with buyers. This enables farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers, eliminating the need for intermediaries and ensuring they receive fair prices. .