Proposal to vote on, by Tuesday 3 Jun
Supporting rural farming in Sierra Leone through seed banks and compost training
Funds required: £4,125
Region: 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
Local partner:
Reseed

The proposal below outlines a long-term project aimed at creating sustained impact. The project's scope and effectiveness are expected to grow over time. Any future funding towards the project will require another vote.

This proposal seeks a second tranche of funding to implement the second phase of our existing agriculture pilot in Marampa, Sierra Leone, where we are supporting rural farmers in transitioning from subsistence farming to income-generating farming.

How did the first phase go?

In the first phase, Mohammed Conteh (the agricultural officer) successfully visited six communities and enrolled 30 farms and 220 farmers in his established program.

Once the farmers were enrolled, he successfully coordinated the distribution of farming tools and 300 seed crops, including Okra, Maize, Pepper, Cucumber, Krain-Krain, Cassava, Cotton, Potato vines, Seed rice and Groundnuts. The farmers have already harvested these crops and begun trading in local markets.

What's next?

In the subsequent phases, Mohammed plans to improve the productivity of the farms by hosting composting workshops to address soil degradation and reduce reliance on costly chemical fertilisers.

The workshops will be available to the whole community, and farmers will be shown how to establish a community compost using materials they can find in their natural environment. The knowledge and learning gained will then be disseminated to the broader farming community, and individual farmers can create and maintain their compost over time.

Community meeting outdoors, people gathered around chalkboard presentation
Finally, each community will be supported in establishing seedling nurseries, ensuring early and healthy crop development. Seed storage units will also be set up, allowing farmers to save, store, and share seeds season after season. This strengthens crop diversity, planning, and resilience.

Budget breakdown:

Seedling nurseries

£825

Seed Storage

£755

Compost Workshops, Set up & Tools

£1,535

Staff salaries (6 months)

£1,100

Total

£4,125

Why is this work necessary?

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.

Rural areas are particularly affected, with many communities relying on small-scale farming and remaining vulnerable to economic, environmental, and climatic shocks. While many NGOs and government initiatives focus on urban areas, rural communities are often overlooked, leaving them without crucial development opportunities.

Metrics we'll track:

  • Number of seedling nurseries established

  • Number of community seed storage facilities refurbished

  • Number of community composts established

  • Number of farmers trained in regenerative farming techniques

Impact and outcomes

This final phase will help rural communities in Marampa move beyond short-term aid toward long-term agricultural independence. Farmers will have access to healthier soils, secure and diverse seed stocks, and shared infrastructure that promotes cooperative effort and knowledge exchange.

Together with Phase 1, the full programme supports transitioning from precarious subsistence to resilient, income-generating farming. Strengthening local food systems enhances livelihoods, nutrition, and dignity for some of the most underserved rural families in Sierra Leone.

With this second tranche of funding, we complete what we started: a holistic, community-led model that other villages can one day follow.

That's all!

Please cast your vote by Tuesday 3 Jun, and if you have any questions regarding the proposal you can reach out to the Kwanda team on team@kwanda.co