STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY
THE PRESIDENT,
ALHAJI DR AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH
AT THE CEREMONY OF THE
HANDING OVER OF TRACTORS AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS DONATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA
ON WEDNESDAY, 17TH AUGUST 2005

SALUTATION.

1. Since May 2002 when I announced the Food Security Goal of my Government we have acquired forty-one tractors which have been distributed throughout the country. These tractors have contributed immensely to the attainment of rice self-sufficiency as part of the food security programme in the country. I am pleased to note that we are now on schedule to achieve this Goal by 2007, especially now that Agricultural Business Units - ABUs - are being so widely adopted.

2. Information received from the recent surveys of the farming community in the country indicates, firstly, that some Districts are now producing sufficient food, especially rice, whereas others are not producing enough to be food secure. This latter category comprises six out of the fourteen agricultural Districts, each of which needs more support to bring them to the self-sufficiency mark by 2007, while at the same time sustaining the gains already made in the other Districts. To this end, we intend to increase our support to those Districts most in need.

3. Secondly, the recent surveys also indicate that there remains a continual deficit in food availability, characterized as the 'hungry season' i.e. July to October sets in. Indeed, the first objective of the Food Security Pillar in the PRSP is to ensure the continual high level year-round supply of food produced by farmers. This will remain the focus of government. We will continue to provide the necessary support from core budgetary allocations, as well as mobilize support from our bi-lateral and multi-lateral partners.

4. What we are witnessing today by the presence of these tractors before us, bears testimony to the goodwill extended to us by friendly governments, more specifically the Arab Jamahariya of Libya whose Minister of Cooperation is here with us today. This great sister nation has generously donated to this government the tractors and implements - thirty in all - to support our Food Security drive. I may add that these tractors are only part of a package of donations which also include forty 50-seater buses, 20 skip trucks, 6 trucks for refuse collection, 20 water tanks, 14,500 and 11,000 litres capacity each, water tanks, and the construction of four executive villas. I should like, on behalf of my government and the people of Sierra Leone to express our profound gratitude to the Leader of the Libyan Arab Jamahariya and the people of Libya for these generous gifts.

5. We want to assure you, Mr Minister of Cooperation, that these tractors will be utilized for the national good. The Libyan Government also made an earlier gift to the people of Sierra Leone in the form of rice as a contribution towards the rehabilitation of war victims. We came to the conclusion that to distribute the rice at that time would not have had the type of impact that was desired. We therefore sold the rice and realized the sum of two billion, twenty-seven million, six hundred and eighty-four thousand, three hundred and seventy Leones (Le2,027,684,370.00). This amount was invested in Treasury Bearer Bonds and later injected into our Social Security Scheme as social safety net. The intention is to use the returns of this investment to meet the cost of food and shelter for old people who have no children and are unable to work. Urgent needs of war-affected victims will also be financed from this source. In line with government's objective, we have assigned the tractors according to carefully designed criteria, which take into account the need for higher farm productivity, disadvantaged groups and agricultural institutions.

6. Therefore, the distribution will be as follows:

(a) Four tractors to amputee groups, one per Province in the country these groups will be organized into Co-operatives with the objective of ensuring that the amputees get regular income on a sustainable basis.

(b) Special needs of institutions whose activities contribute to the promotion of agriculture and food security. These include Njala University, Institute of Agricultural Research, Rice Research Station, Rokupr and National Agricultural Training Centre.

(c) The largest portion of these tractors will be assigned to cooperatives and Agricultural Business Units - ABUs - as part of a new hire purchase scheme intended to promote the input supply of agricultural machinery to farmers. This scheme will enable farmers to purchase and own their own farm equipment, and manage them to improve the efficiency of their farms. The proceeds from the Hire Purchase Scheme will be reinvested for the procurement of additional farm inputs such as fertilizers and other equipments, to ensure the continuation of the business.

(d) Three tractors will be reserved for a community project that has been identified as a role model for farmers because of its excellent management and organizational structure

7. The Agricultural institutions referred to above will pay to the country in kind by way of providing high quality seed and farming materials to the benefit of the nation. They will also train technicians and operatives in the correct usage of modern farming methods.

8. Finally, while we look forward to the arrival of the buses, the skip trucks, the garbage collectors and the water tanks, we want to thank the Government and people of Libya for these generous assistance and would like to assure you, Mr. Minister, that they will be put into good use. We have planned the use of these tractors in a manner that will ensure that we get the maximum benefit from them and use them as a demonstration of the excellent relations that exist between Libya and Sierra Leone.