SYMPOSIUM ON THE THIRD COMMEMORATION
OF THE FOOD SECURITY PLEDGE BY
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY
THE PRESIDENT ALHAJI DR. AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH
THURSDAY, 19TH MAY 2005

Today marks the third commemoration of the Food Security pledge, which I made on May 19th 2002. Let me first of all join previous speakers in welcoming the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and all our foreign guests. I should also like to take this opportunity to congratulate you in advance as Director General for your third term re-election. With the closing date for the nomination of candidates behind us and the fact that as of that date you were the only candidate this makes the election itself a mere formality, a clear indication that your outstanding performance has been recognized worldwide. At this time of stocktaking we need to distinguish between contributory efforts which create the enabling environment, which facilitate the food security process, and the direct efforts at food production, processing, distribution and marketing. In both efforts, the role of donors and other partners in development have been commendable and highly appreciated by government and the citizenry at large.

2. Let me hasten to inform this gathering that in most challenging human endeavours, involving multiple stakeholders, there are bound to be teething problems. The food security programme is no exception because the rebel conflict destroyed most of the productive infrastructure. Having addressed these problems in the first two years, we are now concretizing our initial gains to make the programme fully airborne with a maximum cruising speed by 2007 and beyond. Once we get to top gear, efforts to maintain the momentum will be relatively less challenging and therefore outputs easily identifiable and achievable.

3. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, my government's frantic efforts at infrastuctural development and rehabilitation (including road construction and maintenance); decentralization of authority and responsibility; poverty alleviation; promotion of good governance and the support to appropriate institutions to ensure transparency etc. are aimed at creating the enabling environment for the food security programme. In fact one could safely say that both the poverty alleviation and food security programmes are two sides of the same national development coin, because they fully complement one another. Food Security can drive poverty but at the same time you need financial and material support to be food secured. Other notable incentive packages from government, aimed at facilitating the food security programme include: -

(a) the procurement of locally produced rice for institutional feeding programmes from farmers;

(b) the procurement of seed rice directly from the farmers themselves to ensure the maximization of returns on farming;

(c) the regulation of palm oil export in order to satisfy the local market and also prevent hoarding by "middle men";

(d) the provision of duty waiver facilities on farm machinery and eventually farm inputs;

(e) the issue of cross-border trade is being addressed together with our neighbours with the view to at least reducing the negative aspects such as tax evasion, smuggling and other dubious deals.

4. While our sensitization and public awareness strides have got more people interested in farming, the weather pattern over the past years has negatively impacted on the calendar-dependent upland cultivation. However, we still have the comparative advantage of food production in 640,000 hectares of inland valley swamps; 200,000 hectares of mangroves; 130,000 hectares of riverine grasslands and 145,000 hectares of bolis. Some of these lowland ecologies could ensure double cropping per year using short duration and improved varieties together with the appropriate mix of inputs. I am told that an early start of upland farming operations could partially address the weather problem.

5. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to inform this august body that both the Food security Strategy Paper and the Food Aid Policy papers have been completed and are now being implemented. The strategy paper provides the roadmap to food security while the food aid policy paper ensures that all stakeholders are involved in determining the composition of the aid packages in order to reflect present day realities, according to our national aspirations.

6. Our efforts at sustainable agricultural development hinge on agricultural intensification as opposed to expansion - using high yielding; low nutrient and labour demanding crop varieties that could adapt to the farmers situation of acute resource and labour constraints. The emphasis underscored in our training programmes is productivity i.e. yield per unit area rather than on mere increased acreages cultivated. In order words we need to double crop yields on the same land area or quadruple on double acreage. In that direction, the UNDP/MAFFS Agricultural Transformation Programme aims at both yield maximization and the doubling of acreages under an agricultural commercialization programme through Agricultural Business Units. This practice aims at empowering the farmers to make savings in terms of paddy rice to support both the District Councils and the membership of these Units to eventually procure inputs and light agricultural machinery. This is another strategy aimed at addressing the age-old agricultural credit problem which continues to be handled by the Social Action for Poverty Alleviation (SAPA) Department of Cooperatives, NGOs etc., albeit on a small scale and with small loan portfolios. Clearly there is need for more financial resources to upscale this programme.

7. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, crop survey results for years 2002, 2003 and 2004 indicate a steady increase in the production of our major food crops. These results are encouraging and indicate that food security will be achieved on target date. In fact, these surveys and others conducted by NGOs, show that food distribution rather than food production is the problem. While the highly productive areas of the country are basically food self-sufficient, medium to low production areas with high populations experience food deficits. Hence the value of good all-weather roads, reliable and affordable transportation enhances food production and distribution. These regional variations in food production understandably result in vast differences in the location-dependent prices of these essential commodities. Unless farmers in highly productive remote areas could maximize returns to farming through realistic market prices there will be little or no incentive to production, particularly when the transporter continues to take the lion's share of the proceeds from farming. Government is putting in place policies to ensure that the farmer is no longer short-changed.

8. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen the release of the New Rice for Africa (NERICA) is a technological breakthrough which we Sierra Leoneans should be proud of because one of our nationals in the person of Dr. Monty Jones, worked very hard together with his colleague scientists to produce this NERICA which combines high weed tolerance and low nutrient - demanding attributes with high yield.

9. Under ideal conditions, the 90-day NERICA could be cultivated at least twice a year thereby reducing the length of the hungry period and also providing food-for-work for the second cropping and other activities. In this connection the African Development Bank recently allocated approximately $4 million for us to profit from this new variety of rice. The Ministry of Agriculture is now in the process of making the seed of NERICA available to farmers. The African Development Bank assistance is merely intended to introduce the variety to Sierra Leone. We will need additional assistance to make it available countrywide.

10. While we continue to recognize rice as the sole staple food (to our own detriment) researchers at home have released five cassava, four potato, one groundnut and one cowpea varieties named SLICASS, SLIPOT, SLINUT and SLIPEA respectively. These high yielding varieties will ensure maximum productivity. However in order to give the consumers alternative recipes which could influence their acceptance of foods other than rice, the Nutrition Unit of the Institute of Agriculture Research of the National Agricultural Research Coordinating Council (NARCC) is promoting a series of products (up to 6 products per crop type) for the public to try. The most impressive of these products are the weaning foods such as Soya milk. This means that you do not have to travel to Kabala or raise your own cattle to enjoy locally produced milk. These local efforts could save our meager foreign exchange for the provision of other essential social services necessary for national development.

11. Mr. Chairman, sensitizing people on the value of NERICA and the other food crops in food security should go side by side with their multiplication and distribution to needy farmers. While the NERICA multiplication project covers only five (5) districts, I understand that the USD 2.3 million German-funded sustainable seed production project will cover additional districts. I also understand that both the IFAD and ADB Agricultural Projects have planting material multiplication and distribution components. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) was promoting the SLICAS multiplication at District level last year and the programme will possibly go down to chiefdom level this year.

12. The distribution of these planting materials, inputs (fertilizer, chemicals) machinery and even produce would require haulage trucks in order to be done effectively and on a timely basis. Extensive supervision will be necessary to ensure that "best production practices" are maintained, post harvest losses are minimized, timely operations ensured etc. In order to ensure a two-way delivery of commodities and effective supervision of operations, my government has provided twenty (20) Toyota hilux vehicles and twenty-eight (28) IVECO trucks to support this programme. If the trucks could assist farmers, who provide basic operational costs, to get their farm inputs to the farmers and produce to the markets, returns from farming could be maximized and continuously high crop production guaranteed.

13. The seasonality of fruits production and particularly the high rate of post harvest losses due to poor handling, poor storage and limited transport facilities, untimely delivery etc. continues to frustrate farmer's efforts of realizing ideal prices in the urban markets. Until this sad situation is discouraged, farmers will discontinue the cultivation of fruit trees or even abandon existing plantations which cannot pay back. In order to address this matter, a joint MAFFS/Ministry of Trade Training programme on marmalade jam, fruit juice, and tomato paste production is on going under the Centre for Development Enterprises (CDE) funding and capacity building programme. This programme aims at adding value and the reduction of post harvest and processing losses. It also ensures whole-fruit utilization entailing the use of byproducts such as orange skins in jam production.

14. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Njala University College (Department of Agriculture Engineering) Mercy Ships and private individuals are now installing simple irrigation equipment to boost urban and peri-urban vegetable production which heavily depends on irrigation. In addition to the income generation from vegetable production, the value of vegetables in nutritious food production for the family will now be fully realized.

15. To underscore the value of a balanced diet, the sister Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources through the ADB funded artisanal fisheries development programme continues to service the Goderich, Tombo and other project beneficiary communities. In addition to teaching those communities' energy-efficient fast processing methods, a recent provision of fishing gear to the tune of Le57 Million to Goderich is worthy of note. Prior to that a loan of Le870,000,000 for the construction of fifteen (15) mechanized fishing boats for target communities has been accomplished. This merely compliments earlier efforts at fishing gear provision by FAO and other partners in development. In addition, over one thousand five hundred fish farms have now been constructed particularly in land-locked districts.

16. The just concluded Swedish funded livestock restocking programme which was intended to supplement earlier restocking programmes in the country made provision for 660 small ruminants, 6,000 local hens, 66 pigs, 3,000 cockerels distributed to a total of 2,350 farm families. In addition veterinary drugs to cover a one-year period were provided.

17. While current cocoa and particularly coffee prices continue to discourage production, my government fully supports the development of cashew for local consumption and export in order to complement foreign exchange earned from other sources. Production of cashew currently stands at 500 metric tones per year from an established area of about 3,000 acres. This level of productivity is due to the overgrowth of the plantation during the war years. In addition, the 62.8 metric tons of Chinese Ginger donated in 2003 continue to be multiplied, now reaching a yield of 150 metric tons in 2005. The Chinese ginger and the improved 164,000 oil palm seedlings secured from Malaysia and Cote d'Ivoire and the 88,725 seedling of improved mangoes secured locally to be planted this year will be fully productive in the next four (4) years. These and other export crops will qualify under the Africa Growth Opportunities Act of the USA and Every Thing Else But Arms export promotion window of European Union. These will hopefully stem some of the unfavourable trade practices to which our export products are currently subjected. Both the AGOA and the Everything But Arms Programme will provide duty free access to the USA and European markets for our farmers produce. This will help to build up wealth in the rural areas of our country.

18. The Farmers Field School Programme (Special Programme for Food Security) has now been running for three (3) years with a total output of 260 facilitators and 736 field schools involving 18,400 farmers. The farmer-driven training topics discussed ensure the full participation and involvement of farmers as opposed to previous extension methodologies which promoted the top-bottom approach. I understand that proposals are at hand to cover another 240,000 farm families over and above current achievements. This is one of the FAO initiatives in the country for which the people of Sierra Leone and I are highly grateful to you, Mr. Director General. The highlight of your visit at this point in time is to help us expand this activity in the country because we see it as a pivotal activity in our food security efforts. I am also comforted by the fact that some NGOs in agricultural development are now fully involved in promoting the Farmer Field School strategy.

19. I am also delighted to note that recruitment is underway for both the IFAD funded Rehabilitation and Community Based Poverty Reduction Project and the ADB funded Agricultural Rehabilitation Project both covering seven (7) districts. The infrastructural development, particularly feeder road rehabilitation; the multiplication of planting materials; extension support; tree crop rehabilitation etc. will enhance the food security programme immensely. I note that the German funded USD2.3 million sustainable seed production project has taken off in earnest. This intervention underscores the value of seed security in the sustainability of food security programmes. I am told that the EU's STABEX programme intervention in the tree crop rehabilitation and other areas in the Agriculture Sector are in advanced preparatory phases. I welcome and appreciate the return of Japanese International Corporation and Assistance (JICA) to support 4 proposed projects to the tune of USD 2-3 million.

20. Now that the Rhombe Swamp Development Feasibility Study which started in 1963 is completed, follow up food production projects are being developed to ensure that the positive factors that offer this country the comparative advantage in rice production are fully explored. The cumulative benefits we hope to derive from it would ensure the maintenance of the food security programme well beyond 2007. We therefore look forward to our development partners for assistance to achieve this goal. We shall count on your support Mr. Director General in this regard.

21. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen let me appeal to the entire farming communities to prepare their minds for practicing commercial farming as opposed to subsistence farming. I understand that the UNDP Resident Representative is keen in this and I share his views. Apart from the availability of funds even the mere time management, choice of crops to be grown; systematic increases in acreages cultivated; retention of seeds for subsequent year's planting season; food stock management; eating habits etc. could transform our farmers from the present subsistence level. Until and unless we put our minds in the right gear, we have not yet started addressing the need to improve and maximize benefits to farming. Farming should be self-sustaining but a dependency syndrome does not encourage a commercially - oriented mind, which considers costs of inputs; costs of outputs and therefore profit or loss accrued. Even free gift (which may negate this concept) should be costed during the profit and loss computations.

22. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, Let me take this unique opportunity of thanking the Director-General of F.A.O. for having listened patiently to the constraints and progress in the implementation of our Food Security programme, and to our people for having made us proud by their relentless efforts in showing that given the opportunity Sierra Leoneans will always excel in whatever goal they set themselves.

23. At this stage, I should like to commend all our partners in development in terms of projects funded, training programmes supported; material assistance rendered; collaborative efforts supported and the necessary goodwill.

24. I need at this point to say a word or two on the issue of corruption. This social evil is a topical subject in this country and so it should be. It is now an avowed policy of my Government that corruption in all its forms should be exposed wherever it may be and it should be eradicated. For this purpose I have urged all Sierra Leoneans to be policemen to ring the alarm bell wherever and whenever they detect corruption.

25. We as a nation should regard the fight against corruption as an important element in our national agenda. We must pursue the fight relentlessly until we are able to remove this scourge from our public life. Failing to do this even our efforts to achieve food security would not be realized. This is why I believe that it is important for me that I deal with the topic of corruption here too.

26. I wish to say that corruption may have existed in Sierra Leone as from the late 1960s. But it became institutionalized and I dare say sanctioned, in the early 1970s. Statements from the highest authority in the land to the effect that making money was more important than acquiring sound education, or that a cow was to be expected to graze where it was tied were both expressions which public servants and other officers often relied on to justify their engaging in corrupt practices in their work places. In the course of time corruption became the norm in the public service to the extent that the more corrupt a public officer was the greater were his chances for accelerated promotion in the public service. There were even cases where national awards and honours were conferred upon notoriously corrupt public servants.

27. On my assumption of office as President in 1996, I was aware of the pervasive nature of corruption in the country. I was conscious of the adverse effect this would continue to have on any development effort my government would embark upon. There was also the other dimension of corruption which was quite apparent, namely, it created social tension and unease among people as it became obvious that those in the public service who had the opportunity to be corrupt became more opulent and wealthy and were able to provide more for their families. The rest of the population continued to live in poverty and squalor. This state of affairs may even have been one of the major causes of the rebel war.

28. It was for this reason that I approached the British Government at the earliest opportunity for assistance in the establishment of a mechanism to detect, punish and discourage acts of corruption, while at the same time educating the population on the effects of corruption with a view to reducing and preventing its recurrence. This resulted in the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

29. This Commission has, in my opinion, produced some positive results within the five years of its existence. Some high profile prosecutions have been conducted as a result of the detection and investigations conducted by the Anti Corruption Commission. A lot of cases are currently being prosecuted.

30. Because of this program in the fight against corruption and in other respects, the World Bank was able to name Sierra Leone as one of the countries which have made significant improvement in the area of governance since 1996. This is as indicated in the World Bank release entitled "New Governance Indicators for 209 Countries".

31. Equally important is the prevention of corruption. This can only be achieved by educating and sensitizing the public about the social and economic havoc which corruption causes to the entire nation. I must say that this aspect of the work of the Anti Corruption Commission also seems to have been producing positive results. There is hardly any person in Sierra Leone now who is not aware that corruption is a serious crime carrying very severe punishment and that every person in the public service is being watched closely. I am convinced that with the prevailing atmosphere corruption will be curbed.

32. In assessing the Government's success or otherwise in the fight against corruption it should be remembered that it is not an easy matter to eradicate a system which had been ingrained in the society for over three decades. It will require the perseverance of all to succeed, and it will take some time to attune the minds of the population to the new order of a corrupt-free society. But our success is assured as long as we do not relent or waiver in our determination.

33. The process also needs to be embarked upon in such a way that there will be no perception of witch-hunting, a perception that can easily be created especially in a small country like ours where improper motives can easily be imputed to almost every public action, however honourable. What to me is important is that evidence of corruption against any individual should be made public for all to see and investigations or trials should not be inordinately protracted. Also the fight against corruption must be seen to be pursued within the context of fair play and the need to protect what belongs to the people.

34. I thank you for your attention.

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