Ministry of Agriculture Provides Ebola Preventive Materials to Framers in Port Loko By Hassan Bruz Northern Bureau Chief The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has provided Ebola Preventive Materials to Farmers in the Northern District of Port Loko. The consignment which comprised of Veronica Buckets with Pumps, Rubber Buckets without Pumps, Soap and Antiseptic Disinfectants were procured with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD]. As outlined by the District Crop Officer-Jinnah Bockarie, at the symbolic distribution ceremony, IFAD is supporting the operations of both the Rehabilitation and Community Based Poverty Reduction Project [RCPRP] and the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme [RFCIP] in Port Loko District. He said the Package targets the Customers of the Agricultural Business Centres, Community Banks, Financial Services Associations, Block Extension Offices and the District Agricultural Office as direct Beneficiaries. Jinnah Bockarie explained how the outbreak of the Ebola Virus came at a time when Farmers were scaling up their farming activities. He said this has resulted to what could be referred to ‘less effective farming season’ compared to previous years in the District. He made a particular mention of the Demonstration Plots the Ministry had earlier set up to help Farmers learn new technologies for better productivity and how all those efforts have also been rendered less effective. Eddie Laya Bewoh is the Director of Agriculture in Port Loko District and the one who is conducting the Distribution of these Ebola Preventive Materials. He described Port Loko as one of the most affected Districts in the Ebola crises. He said a good number of the operational areas were being quarantined, citing the case of Masimera, Maforki, Koya, Marampa and Buya Romendy Chiefdoms. He said the movement of Farmers in these areas is being restrained and could not even go to their Farms. Eddie Laya Bewoh told the Sierra Leone News Agency [SLENA] in an interview that most Farmers who contracted the Disease have died of it while many more infected persons were yet battling between life and death. He spoke of the other aspect which has to do with the plight of those Farmers who were able to brave the situation and did some work, but could not now go to market their Produce. The Port Loko District Director of Agriculture further mentioned the plight of the Farmers in the Concession Area of the London Mining Company in the Marampa Chiefdom, where the Project to Relocate and provide them with Support is dying a natural death. He said it is however mandatory for the Ministry to protect and promote their interests especially in such a trying period. The Director said that is why he has secured a Pass to enable him go round the District and have the Consignment distributed to the targeted groups of Farmers. During the symbolic distribution ceremony of the Package which took place at the Head Office in Port Loko early this week, Eddie Laya Bewoh said Ebola is real and Farmers should refrain from all acts that could make them become infected. He said they should rather adhere to the pieces of advice from Medical Officers and other Health Service Givers. While urging them to complement the efforts of Government in the fight against this killer disease, the Port Loko District Director of Agriculture said, the Virus will soon be contained so that People will return to their normal spheres of life. These are some of the Photos obtained at the Symbolic distribution of the Preventive Materials including the ones for both the Director and his Crop Officer.....
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:47:23 +0000
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