Helping rural family farms in Sierra Leone earn income

Context

Sierra Leone ranks 184 out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index, with two-thirds of its population living below the poverty line. The country's social and economic structure, already weakened by a decade-long conflict, was further devastated by the 2019 pandemic and compounded by soaring interest rates in 2021-2022.

Solution

A long-term agriculture project in collaboration with rural farming communities in Marampa will be implemented over several months, encompassing three phases:

Phase 1: Working directly with the 30 farms, Mohammed, an agriculture officer will supply seeds and tools to increase the farmers' yields and diversify their crops. Each farmer can choose what they need. Mohammed will spend his time embedded in the communities, supporting each farm, providing tailored advice and support and encouraging sustainable farming practices. All the communities supported in this pilot will work cooperatively, allowing for shared labour for planting and harvesting.

Phase 3: We will fund the provision of materials to establish or refurbish community seed banks. The farms that received the initial yield booster and crop diversification will harvest and store the seeds for the next planting cycle. Other community members can use the storage space and trade their seeds,

Impact

The project will directly benefit farmers. The initial crop diversification and yield booster focuses on 30 farms, and then the compost and seed bank elements benefit the wider community.

By transitioning from subsistence farming to trading at regional markets, farmers will achieve stable and reliable incomes. This will raise living standards, allowing families to afford adequate nutrition, education, and healthcare.